BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has dismissed reports that the IPL will expand to 12 teams from 2028. He said the board has not discussed the idea, either formally or informally. He called the reports speculative and said they have no credibility. He added that expansion is not in the board’s scope right now.
Saikia said the BCCI is focused on the 2027 season. That will be the 20th edition of the IPL, so it will be a big event. He said the board is not considering anything beyond that. A report in Mint had claimed the BCCI was exploring two new teams. It named Pune and Vadodara as possible homes for them. The report said talks were at a very early stage and the final cities could still change.
The report also said expansion would likely line up with the next media rights cycle, which runs from 2028 to 2032. It said each new team could be worth more than $1 billion. A long list of investors was said to be watching. That included the private equity firm Permira, sovereign wealth funds from West Asia, state-backed investment bodies from other parts of Asia, US-based family offices, and well-known Indian business groups.
Pune has had IPL teams before. Pune Warriors India, owned by the Sahara Group, played from 2011 to 2013. They left after a dispute with the BCCI over franchise fees. The city got another team in 2016 and 2017. Rising Pune Supergiant was brought in while Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended. That team reached the 2017 final and lost to Mumbai Indians by one run.
There are strong arguments for expansion. India is a huge market, and many cities want their own team. Pune has shown it can support a franchise. New teams would create more chances for domestic players, coaches, and support staff. The high valuations suggest the business world believes the product is still growing.
A bigger league means a longer season. India’s top players already carry a heavy workload across formats. The competitive balance fans enjoy could also suffer. More matches would also worry broadcasters, who would have to pay more for the same time window. The BCCI has reshaped the league before. But it will need to protect player welfare and fan interest as much as it chases valuations. A rushed one might dilute what made it special.
IPL 2027 Auction Set for December 16 in Goa as Teams Face November 17 Retention Deadline
The IPL 2027 auction will take place on December 16 in Goa. It is a one-day mini-auction. This marks the first time in three years the auction is back in India. The last three were held overseas: Dubai, Jeddah, and Abu Dhabi.
Teams must submit their final lists of retained and released players by November 17. Once that deadline passes, each franchise will know its remaining purse and available slots. The IPL will then share the full list of registered players with the teams. They will shortlist players before the final auction list and the order of sets are prepared closer to the event.
This will be the last mini-auction under the current player rules, which cover the 2025, 2026, and 2027 seasons. Two trades have already happened since the 2026 season ended. Rishabh Pant returned to Delhi Capitals from Lucknow Super Giants, with Kuldeep Yadav moving the other way. More recently, T Natarajan went from Delhi to Sunrisers Hyderabad, while leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari joined Delhi.
The dates for the IPL 2027 season have not been finalized yet.
FAQs
Q. Will the IPL expansion to 12 teams happen in 2028?
A. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has denied the reports, saying the board has not discussed expansion.
Q. Which cities were reportedly considered for two new IPL teams?
A. Pune and Vadodara were named as possible locations in the report.
Q. What is the BCCI currently focused on?
A. The BCCI is focused on the 2027 IPL season, which will be the tournament’s 20th edition.
Q. When does the next IPL media rights cycle begin?
A. The next media rights cycle is scheduled to run from 2028 to 2032.
Q. Which IPL team from Pune reached the 2017 final?
A. Rising Pune Supergiant reached the 2017 final but lost to Mumbai Indians by one run.
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