Bilateral series in danger? The look of IPL will change from 2027, both window and matches will increase.

New Delhi: The 19th season of the Indian Premier League is being played. A total of 74 matches will be played between 10 teams in the entire season, but from next year the format of the tournament may change completely. IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal has said that extending the IPL window to the year 2027 can be considered. In such a situation, if the IPL window increases, it is clear that the number of matches in the league will also increase. A total of 74 matches are played in the current IPL.

However, after the arrival of two new teams like Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans, now in the current system all the teams are not able to play each other twice during the league stage. Dhumal admitted that at present there is not enough space in the cricket calendar to increase the number of matches from 74 to 94. He did not consider the option of holding two matches on the same day (double-header) to be practical, but suggested that a larger window in the future was not impossible, as spectator interest in 'some bilateral series' was waning.

IPL preparing to talk to cricket board

In an interview given to The Financial Times, Dhumal said that if we look at the changes in the last few years, the interest in mutual series between the countries has definitely decreased. This is why countries like England, Australia, UAE, South Africa and West Indies are coming up with their own T20 leagues. Dhumal believes that if this trend continues then every country will want less bilateral series or will focus only on those series which are economically beneficial.

In such a situation, there will be scope for expanding IPL. He expressed hope that discussions with cricket boards of other countries will be positive and a larger window can be found for more than 74 matches in the cycle after 2027. He also cited September or October as a possibility for this, when England's cricket season ends and Australia's season is about to begin. He stressed that BCCI's focus is not only on Indian cricket, but also on the health of global cricket.