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Truely, the Delhi Premier League (DPL) is off to a promising start!
Over thousands watching the opening ceremony of DPL’s inaugural season is a good indication as to where this event is going to go in the next few years. The high turnout, good cricket standards and the impressive financial projections suggest that the league is well-positioned for future growth. The possibility of adding more teams in the next season indicates strong interest and potential expansion.
The financial outlook for DDCA, led by its president Rohan Jaitley, is particularly noteworthy with the DDCA already making a projection of Rs 100 crore from this league on annual basis coupled with another contribution of Rs 160 crore from BCCI’s income share and receipts from international games on and so forth. This state body is looking at a projection of an annual revenue close to Rs 300 crore.
During the first match of the DPL at the Ferozeshah Kotla, a few of the franchises are already talking about including two more teams in the competition from next year, sources told CricBlogger. “The prospect of adding more teams next season speaks volumes about the interest and enthusiasm surrounding this new venture,” a source said.
This approach is a stark contrast to the resistance faced during IPL’s expansion, suggesting a more inclusive and progressive mindset among the DPL stakeholders. “This is quite a departure from the previous experience in Indian cricket, wherein, the original eight franchises strongly protested the inclusion of two new teams,” the source added.
In DPL, it is all about the more, the merrier. Which means, those who missed on getting a DPL contract this year, around 40 more could be seen entering the fray to play this league next year.
As DPL gains traction, it’s likely to attract even more attention from fans, sponsors, and media, further boosting its financial and competitive prospects. If these positive trends continue, the league could become a significant fixture in the cricketing calendar. This is a significant leap for a state cricket association, placing DDCA in the same league as some of the wealthiest IPL franchises like the Royals Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
In the first year itself, DDCA has made close to Rs 50 crore after selling six teams and another Rs 15 crore from other sales of sponsorship slots like the title and all. If things go as planned, DDCA could also be seen as the richest cricket association as well. Rishabh Pant’s participation is certainly a major draw, and his involvement will likely elevate the league’s profile further. As the DPL continues to gain momentum, it could very well become one of the most lucrative and prestigious T20 leagues outside the IPL, cementing DDCA’s status as a financial powerhouse in Indian cricket, besides redefining the cricketing landscape in Delhi and beyond.
