The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ruled out expanding the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 10 to 12 teams, putting an end to weeks of speculation about new franchises joining the tournament in 2028.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told news agency PTI on Wednesday that the board has not discussed the idea at all, formally or informally.
“We have neither discussed formally nor informally the possibility of the IPL becoming a 12-team affair in 2028. It is not in our scope at this stage,” Saikia said.
01. Focus is on IPL 2027, the 20th edition
Saikia said the board’s full attention is on the 2027 season, which will be the 20th edition of the IPL and is set to begin in March 2027.
“We are concerned about the IPL of 2027, which is going to be the 20th edition of the IPL. So it will be a big affair. We are concerned about that and we are not considering anything beyond that,” he said.
He dismissed the reports about expansion as speculation, saying: “Whatever news is circulating in the media, I think these are all speculative reports from some fertile minds. I have no comments to offer regarding those. There is no sanctity to those reports.”
02. No decision on raising the team purse
Saikia also said no decision has been taken on increasing the team salary purse from Rs 125 crore to Rs 150 crore.
“There is nothing of that sort regarding an increase in the salary purse,” he said. The mega auction will take place sometime next year, while this year’s player auction — a mini-auction — is scheduled for December 16, 2026, the last year of the current cycle.
03. January window also ruled out
Saikia also responded to Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Juhi Chawla Mehta’s suggestion to shift the IPL window to January instead of the usual April-May period.
“We are concerned about hosting the 2027 IPL, which is going to start in March 2027. That’s all,” he said.
The IPL stays a 10-team tournament for now, with the 2027 season — its landmark 20th edition — the board’s only priority.
