Lalit Modi, the founding chairman of the Indian Premier League, has ignited a significant debate regarding the tournament’s future by proposing a structural expansion. Modi suggests shifting the competition to a 94-match format, with an ideal start date in January, and has urged ICC Chair Jay Shah to help incorporate these revisions into the upcoming Future Tours Programme (FTP). I took a window nobody wanted and built a competition people wanted to watch. That is precisely why this discussion belongs in the new FTP. January is a concrete starting proposal within that range.
The current April-May window has long been considered the cornerstone of the tournament’s initial success. In 2008, the league launched with eight teams and 59 matches, utilizing a period relatively free of international cricket commitments to establish a lucrative commercial model. Modi acknowledges that while this timeframe worked initially, applying the circumstances of 2008 to the modern era ignores the league’s massive evolution. The April-May window is widely regarded as the masterstroke of your original concept in 2008. It allowed the BCCI to turn a vacant slot into its most lucrative property, and it brought families, women and children, to the grounds and in front of television, free of international cricket. There was enormous resistance and scepticism, when I started. The success we see today was not handed to us. For families, of course the holiday period was an advantage. Their interest is not confined to two months. I did not create it to stand still.
The proposed 94-match schedule is rooted in a specific sporting logic: with 10 teams participating, a full home-and-away round-robin format followed by four playoff matches naturally results in 94 games. This represents an increase of 35 matches, or nearly 60%, over the original format. Modi insists that the calendar must adapt to accommodate this growth rather than remaining locked in historical constraints. The BCCI subsequently expanded the league to 10 teams. A complete home-and-away competition for 10 teams means 90 league matches and four playoffs.
Addressing concerns about player and spectator welfare, Modi argues that the current compressed schedule places excessive pressure on all stakeholders. He contends that the broader period from October to April offers a more flexible range for planning. By carefully coordinating with international boards to identify protected blocks, he believes the IPL can exist alongside, rather than in conflict with, the global international and domestic calendar. Aren’t you now arguing against what was arguably the IPL’s biggest strength. Then assess the economics properly.
Modi highlighted that India could adopt a model similar to other international leagues, where domestic schedules are carefully separated from international windows. He maintains that keeping these revenue streams distinct is vital, but argues that a rigid adherence to the existing calendar is not a viable long-term business strategy. Instead, he calls for a meticulous review of fixtures, venues, travel demands, and player commitments to design a more sustainable season. But “the calendar would have to change” cannot be the final answer to every proposal. You cannot fit a Test tour into a few spare weekdays.
Responding to concerns regarding the intense summer heat experienced during the current late-season schedule, Modi emphasized that weather patterns have changed significantly. He noted that sunset does not mitigate the heat and humidity that affect players, spectators, and venue staff throughout the day. A shift toward the October-April window would allow for more intelligent scheduling, taking into account regional climate variations across India. In a conversation with, Modi set out the case for a window between October and April, and drew a comparison with football leagues that run over long seasons. Weekends and comfortable stadium conditions, while taking school calendars into account, we should build a better experience through sensible timings. Players need preparation and genuine rest.
Regarding the potential impact of dew, which often favors teams bowling second in night matches, Modi recognized it as a legitimate technical concern.
However, he noted that the league already grapples with this in the current April-May window and successfully introduced a wet-ball replacement rule in 2025.
He argued that venue-specific studies—analyzing fog, air quality, rain, and temperature—should guide scheduling rather than forcing the entire tournament into a potentially unsuitable window.
Modi explicitly rejected the idea that a longer season inherently risks viewer fatigue. He suggested that spreading matches over a longer period would allow for a more consistent weekly rhythm, helping teams build local loyalty and allowing fans to anticipate matchups more effectively. He stressed that a 94-match schedule, if managed with proper spacing, would provide a more manageable experience for fans compared to the current pressure to consume excessive cricket in a short time frame.
On the commercial front, Modi remains optimistic about the future, though he warned that the BCCI should carefully evaluate its rights packages. He believes the upcoming media-rights cycle requires a sophisticated approach that considers both the product design and the business environment. He advocates for a strategy that fosters genuine competition among bidders while protecting the league’s status as the principal commercial engine of Indian cricket. My assessment is that bilateral and ICC rights income faces pressure in the coming cycle.
Ultimately, Modi’s vision is one of proactive, data-driven planning. He argues that the BCCI must move beyond the mentality of simply continuing what was established years ago and instead look at the entire year as a cohesive, high-value commercial opportunity. By reevaluating the calendar, the league can potentially accommodate expansion while safeguarding the quality of the product for both players and supporters.
