Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has raised concerns over the league’s current format, claiming it is potentially losing around Rs 2,400 crore in revenue by not sticking to its original structure. Despite appreciating the league’s soaring value highlighted by the combined ₹31,000 crore worth of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals, Modi believes the IPL is not maximising its earning potential.
He has recommended a return to the complete home-and-away system that was initially envisioned, where each team would play every other side twice in the league stage.
With the tournament expanding to 10 teams in 2022, such a format would result in a 90-match league phase, followed by four playoff fixtures. However, the IPL continues to operate with a condensed 74-match schedule after modifying the traditional format.
“Each match’s revenue is split evenly, with the BCCI taking half and the other half going to the franchises. Because of this, teams are effectively missing out on around 20 games. Given the financial commitments they’ve made, providing a full home-and-away schedule is part of the agreement,” he said.
“The real value comes from a proper home-and-away system. If the calendar can’t accommodate it, then adding more teams shouldn’t have happened. That wasn’t the original plan we presented. And I’m certain not everyone has agreed to this change,” he added.
“Why isn’t the home-and-away system being followed? There may be reasons given, but it remains a contractual and commercial commitment to the franchises.”
Modi feels that fewer matches are negatively affecting both franchise valuations and the overall worth of the league.
“If the league had 94 matches under a full home-and-away format, with each game valued at Rs 118 crore, the media rights alone would generate an additional Rs 2,400 crore. That would mean Rs 2,400 crore more in revenue for the BCCI,” explained.
“Out of that, Rs 1,200 crore would be distributed among the 10 franchises—Rs 120 crore each—and this would naturally push up the overall value of the teams.”
