What is IPL?

IPL stands for Indian Premier League. This League would start on 18th april 2008. It is vaguely based on the EPL. There are a total of 8 teams participating in this event which will play each other. The teams are

1. Mumbai
2. Kolkata
3. Chennai
4. Hyderabad
5. Mohali
6. Delhi
7. Bangalore
8. Jaipur.

The teams were bought by the franchisees. The franchisees range from pure business firms like GMR, to film stars Shah Rukh Khan.
Once the franchisees buy the teams, they can run it according to their own whims and fancies. They can get their own sponsors, and even list their teams on the stock exchanges.
Stars from International cricket world over are set to play this tournament. The BCCI has created a pool of 80 international players whom the franchisees would bid for on 20th February 2008.
However ICON players such as Sachin, Dravid, and Saurav shall play for their home teams and shall be paid the highest, in the team.

The idea of IPL was conceived by Lalit Modi, the vice-president of BCCI. In response to a not so successful ICL(Indian Cricket League) floated by Zee Tv's Subhash Chandra.

All the Matches shall be of Twenty-20 format. The rules of matches are yet to be announced, It seems unlikely that there will be any seeping changes in the rules much unlike the Kerry Packer series.
But, like the Kerry Packer series matches shall be held at night, so that maximum number of people can watch them(which means more money for the BCCI, Sponsors and Franchisees). There shall be 55 matches to be played in 44 days.

We shall look into the money flow in the next post. But you may have to wait a long time before there would be Thrills and Spills of Cricket.