The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dismissed reports suggesting that the Indian Premier League (IPL) could expand from 10 to 12 teams in 2028. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has clarified that the Board has not discussed any such proposal, either formally or informally.
Amid growing interest in the IPL’s global popularity, speculation about adding two more franchises has attracted considerable attention. However, Saikia has made it clear that expanding the tournament is not currently part of the Board’s plans. He described the reports circulating in the media as baseless speculation.
Speaking to PTI, Saikia said there had been no discussion about turning the IPL into a 12-team competition in 2028. He also indicated that there was no reason to give importance to reports suggesting otherwise.
BCCI Rules Out IPL Expansion to 12 Teams in 2028
Responding to questions about a possible increase in the number of IPL franchises, Saikia firmly rejected the reports.
He explained that neither formal meetings nor informal discussions had taken place within the BCCI regarding a 12-team IPL from the 2028 season.
According to the BCCI secretary, the Board is not considering any expansion at this stage. He also described the media reports as speculative and said they had no official basis.
This clarification puts an end to the current speculation about adding two new franchises to the existing 10-team tournament.
IPL 2027 Will Be a Special Season, Says BCCI Secretary
Instead of focusing on a possible expansion in 2028, the BCCI is currently concentrating on preparations for IPL 2027.
Saikia said the 2027 edition will be an important occasion as it marks the 20th season of the tournament. The Board is giving priority to organising this edition rather than making plans beyond it.
He also clarified that no decision has been taken to increase the franchise salary purse from Rs 125 crore to Rs 150 crore ahead of the 2028 mega auction.
According to Saikia, the next auction scheduled for December 16 will be a mini-auction, not a mega auction. The Board will consider further decisions after the current auction cycle is completed.
No Decision on IPL Salary Purse Increase or January Start
The BCCI secretary also addressed questions about a possible increase in the franchise salary purse. He said there was currently no proposal under consideration to raise the limit from Rs 125 crore to Rs 150 crore.
Saikia also declined to comment on recent remarks by Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner and Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla on social media platform X.
Chawla had suggested that the IPL could begin in January instead of following its existing April-May schedule.
Responding to questions about the proposed change, Saikia reiterated that the BCCI’s immediate priority was organising IPL 2027, which is scheduled to begin in March 2027.
IPL 2027 Auction: Important Dates for Franchises
Meanwhile, preparations for the IPL 2027 auction are moving forward. Franchises must submit their final lists of retained and released players by November 17.
The mini-auction is scheduled to take place in Goa on December 16. Teams will have the opportunity to make changes to their squads during the auction as they prepare for the upcoming season.
For now, the BCCI’s focus remains on the 20th edition of the IPL, while decisions regarding league expansion, salary purse changes and future tournament formats remain unconfirmed.
Disclaimer: This article is based on statements attributed to BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and the information provided in the source report. IPL schedules, auction dates, team policies and tournament regulations may be subject to official changes. Readers should refer to announcements from the BCCI and IPL authorities for confirmed updates.