A T20 hundred was at one time unfathomable. The whole narrative around hundreds in T20 cricket, however, changed on the opening day of the Indian T20 League way back in 2008. In a game between Kolkata and Bangalore, Brendon McCullum smashed a daddy hundred (158) to show what is actually achievable in the format. Since then, centuries have flooded in the league and here we take a glance at the ones with the most tons. 

Chris Gayle - 6

Chris Gayle is a phenomenal T20 hitter and a record holder for the highest individual score in a T20 game; a 175 he smashed for Bangalore against Pune.

In the 2013 edition of the league, Gayle smashed this record score at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. This was his fourth ton in the league. He had already notched up scores of 102* (v Kolkata, 2011), 107 (v Punjab, 2011) and 128* (v Delhi, 2012). The frequency of tons from the West Indian reduced since then. His next one after the record-breaking 175 came in 2015 against Kings XI Punjab and the final one in 2018 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Virat Kohli - 5

Virat Kohli hadn’t scored a T20 ton until the 2016 edition of the league. He wasn't seen as a big-hitter or someone who could notch up hundreds within 20 overs. A switch to open the batting worked wonders for the Bangalore skipper. 

Read | Indian T20 League: Year by year list of Orange Cap holders

He slammed four hundreds in the 2016 edition alone - vs Gujarat (twice), Pune and Punjab. Last year, he added a fifth to the list at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata to climb to second in the list of most hundreds in the Indian T20 League. 

David Warner - 4

The Australian opener was among the first 10 centurions in the Indian T20 League when he hit a 69-ball 107 for Delhi against Kolkata in 2010. In 2012, he added another against Deccan Chargers when he made a 54-ball 109* in Hyderabad, a ground he would go on to own a few years later for the new franchise that would be formed. 

Warner's third ton in the league came after he switched to Hyderabad. The opener smashed a 59-ball 126 against Kolkata in 2017. In 2019, he and Jonny Bairstow hit a hundred apiece against Bangalore to take Warner's tally of league hundreds to 4.

Shane Watson - 4

Shane Watson has a unique record of scoring centuries. While playing for Rajasthan in 2013, Watson had hit a century at Chepauk against Chennai. 

Read | Indian T20 League: Year by year list of Purple Cap holders

He later moved to the MS Dhoni-led Chennai franchise, and in 2018 at Pune, he cracked a century against Rajasthan, his old franchise. Watson scored another century in the final of the 2018 Indian T20 League against Hyderabad to win the title for Chennai. He had one other ton when playing for Rajasthan (against Kolkata in 2015).

AB de Villiers - 3

Like with Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers has a penchant for cracking those big knocks irrespective of the formats. The South African was, however, quicker than Kohli to get his maiden T20 ton. 

In 2009, while playing for Delhi, de Villiers smashed the seventh ever ton when he hit 105* in 54 balls. It took a while for de Villiers to make another ton in the league. Six years to be precise, but when it did materialise, it was a terrific knock against Mumbai at the Wankhede in 2015. The South African hit a 59-ball 133* then. The following year, he made a 52-ball 129* against Gujarat at the Chinnaswamy Stadium to take his total number of tons in the league to three.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Chandan Khanna

 

We can all rightfully acknowledge the fact that the Indian T20 League has set some bizarre batting standards since its inception in 2008. The format of the game is such that the batters are required to approach every game with the mentality of ‘go hard or go home�

As a result, the fans have been duly enthralled by some outstanding knocks, which has helped put the competition in a league of its own. Considered by many as one of the most competitive T20 leagues around the globe, we analyse one of the many byproducts of the intense gameplay by looking at five players to have scored the quickest centuries in the history of the tournament.

Chris Gayle vs Pune �30 balls (April 2013)

It just had to be him!

Taking on Pune in the 2013 edition of the tournament, the spectators bore witness to an absolute GayleStorm, as opener Chris Gayle, playing for Bangalore, completed his century in a mere 30 deliveries. Playing a 167-run stand for the opening wicket with Tillakaratne Dilshan, the southpaw not only remained unbeaten throughout the innings but also scored 175 off 66 balls to take his team to 263/5.

Read | Five fastest centuries in ODIs

His innings included a whopping 13 fours and 17 sixes.

He was rightfully adjudged the Man of the Match award after also accumulating two wickets for five runs in his only over.

Yusuf Pathan vs Mumbai �37 balls (March 2010)

Playing for Rajasthan in 2010, all-rounder Yusuf Pathan smashed what was the fastest Indian T20 League ton back then.

Pathan showcased his supreme hard-hitting prowess against Mumbai as his side was chasing 212. The all-rounder arrived at the crease when his side had lost three wickets for 40 in almost seven overs. Taking over the mantle, Pathan hit nine fours and eight sixes to complete his century in 37 balls.

Regardless of his efforts though, Rajasthan fell short of four runs, but Pathan picked up the Man of the Match award.

David Miller vs Bangalore �38 balls (May 2013)

In the same edition where Gayle was at his brutal best, David Miller was slowly making positive strides while playing for Punjab.

Read | Five fastest centuries in Test cricket history

Punjab crossed swords with Bangalore in the 51^st game of the edition and were put to chase 190 after both Cheteshwar Pujara and Chris Gayle had scored half-centuries. Coming in to bat, Punjab were reduced to 51-for-3 in eight overs and were in dire need of someone who can take on the bowlers from that point on.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man, Miller walked on to the pitch and went on to score a 38-ball century, which included eight fours and seven sixes, to take his side to a six-wicket victory, with 12 balls still to go.

Adam Gilchrist vs Mumbai �42 balls (April 2008)

A breathtaking performance from Adam Gilchrist against Mumbai in the inaugural season not only gave Deccan their maiden victory but also made the Australian opener the fastest batsman to score an Indian T20 League ton.

Mumbai had put 154/7 on board, riding on a late blitz by the likes of Shaun Pollock, Abhishek Nayar and Dwayne Bravo. And while it was thought to be a close encounter between the two star-studded units, it took Deccan just 12 overs to reach the target.

Opening the innings for them was Gilchrist and VVS Laxman. The latter, as was expected of him, took his time on the crease, while the former went all guns blazing, completing his century in just 42 balls. The southpaw remained unbeaten at 109 as his team registered a 10-wicket victory.

AB de Villiers vs Gujarat �43 balls (May 2016)

In May 2016, Bangalore took on Gujarat at home and those watching the fixture were duly entertained by an absolute masterclass from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

Read | Six times cricketers hit Day 1 Test centuries before lunch

After losing an early wicket, that of Chris Gayle, the two hard-hitting batsmen joined forces to take their side from 19-for-1 to 248-for-3, with Kohli scoring 109 off 55 deliveries, while de Villiers smashing 129 off just 52. The South African’s ton, in fact, came in just 43 balls, making him the fifth-fastest batsman to score an Indian T20 League century. Striking at a rate of 248.07, his innings included 10 fours and 12 sixes.

Bangalore, meanwhile, were equally brilliant with the ball, as they managed to dislodge the entire Gujarat team for just 104, winning the match by 144 runs; the biggest margin of victory in the tournament’s history.

Special mention: In April 2017, a year after de Villiers' blistering knock, Hyderabad's David Warner, too, scored a 43-ball ton against Kolkata. The Australian eventually scored 126 off 59 balls as his team posted 209/3 in 20 overs.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Manjunath Kiran

The 13th edition of the Indian T20 League got underway in the UAE this year with a curtain-raiser pitting defending champions Mumbai against last year’s runners-up Chennai, and the action has been hot and heavy ever since.

While we continue to bring you up-to-date coverage of all the matches, we have decided to travel back to the years gone by and give you the list of Orange Cap holders right from the start of the league till the present day.

2008 Orange Cap: Shaun Marsh (Punjab)

The inaugural edition of the Indian T20 League saw veterans like Gautam Gambhir, Sanath Jayasuriya and even Graeme Smith battling for the Orange Cap, but a certain Shaun Marsh, playing for Punjab, won the race by scoring 616 runs in 11 games at a whopping average of 51.44. His tenure had five half-centuries and one ton.

2009 Orange Cap: Matthew Hayden (Chennai)

Matthew Hayden had answers to everything that the bowlers had in store, and his best performance came in 2009 with Chennai when he scored 582 runs in 12 innings at an average of 52.00. The southpaw, apart from scoring five half-centuries during the edition, smashed 60 boundaries and 22 sixes.

2010 Orange Cap: Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai)

In 2010, Mumbai made it to their first final and a majority of the credit goes to Sachin Tendulkar, who topped the batting chart with 618 runs in 15 innings at an average of 47.54. His five half-centuries during the tournament included 86 boundaries and three sixes.

2011 Orange Cap: Chris Gayle (Bangalore)

Arguably the most entertaining T20 player ever, Chris Gayle had to wait as many as four years to get a hand on his first-ever Orange Cap. In 2011, playing for Bangalore, the big West Indian scored 608 runs in 12 innings at an average of 67.55 to finish on the top.

2012 Orange Cap: Chris Gayle (Bangalore)

For the second year running, Chris Gayle topped the run-scoring chart, this time by smashing 733 runs in 14 innings; more than 100 runs clear of second-placed Gautam Gambhir.

2013 Orange Cap: Michael Hussey (Chennai)

In 2013, Chennai made it to their second successive final, only to lose it for the second time against Mumbai. During the campaign, Australia’s Michael Hussey played a big role as he finished on the top of the scoring table with 733 runs in 17 innings at an average of 52.35.

2014 Orange Cap: Robin Uthappa (Kolkata)

Kolkata lifted their second Indian T20 League title in 2014 and a majority of credit for that title triumph goes to Robin Uthappa, who �after scoring 660 runs in 16 innings �was given the Orange Cap.

2015 Orange Cap: David Warner (Hyderabad)

David Warner has been one of the most successful batsmen in the Indian T20 League. He is, in fact, the only player to win three Orange Caps, and the first came in 2015 while playing for Hyderabad. That year, the hard-hitting Aussie scored 562 runs in 14 innings to finish on the top.

2016 Orange Cap: Virat Kohli (Bangalore)

In 2016, Bangalore made it to their third final. For the third time running, however, fortunes favoured their opponent, and their captain, Virat Kohli had to settle with the season’s Orange Cap after scoring a whopping 973 runs in 16 innings at an average of 81.08. It remains the record for the most runs scored in a single season.

2017 Orange Cap: David Warner (Hyderabad)

A season after guiding Hyderabad to glory, Warner once again terrorised the opposition bowlers by scoring 641 runs in 14 innings of the 2017 Indian T20 League season.

2018 Orange Cap: Kane Williamson (Hyderabad)

Hyderabad’s domination in recent years has been exhilarating, to say the least. Despite not having David Warner in the ranks for the 2018 season, Kane Williamson managed to win the Orange Cap after scoring 735 runs in 17 innings at an average of 52.50.

2019 Orange Cap: David Warner (Hyderabad)

David Warner’s partnership with Jonny Bairstow blossomed to an entirely new level in the 2019 edition of the tournament. It was, however, the former who ended up as the tournament’s top-scorer despite playing fewer games. The Aussie southpaw scored 692 runs in the season at an average of 69.20.

2020 Orange Cap: KL Rahul (Punjab)

Punjab captain KL Rahul won the Orange Cap in 2020 after he amassed 670 runs in 14 matches at a magnificent average of 55.83 and a strike rate of 129.34. He hit one hundred and five fifties in the tournament. Despite Rahul's staggering form, Punjab finished sixth in the Indian T20 League 2020 standings.

2021 Orange Cap: Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai)

Chennai's Ruturaj Gaikwad pipped his opening partner Faf du Plessis to bag the Orange Cap in the 2021 edition of the Indian T20 League. Gaikwad accumulated 635 runs in 16 matches at an average of 45.36 while maintaining a strike rate of 136.27. On the other hand, du Plessis had scored 633 runs in 16 matches at an average of 45.21 and a strike rate of 138.21. The opening duo helped Chennai clinch their fourth Indian T20 League title after they defeated Kolkata by 27 runs in the final.

Featured photo: IPL

The Indian T20 League, since its inception in 2008, has been a hotbed of pure passion. The excitement and drama it brings along every year is next to unmatchable. The league has not only created a worldwide buzz but has also proved to be a turning point in the careers of several youngsters.

That said, let’s dive into the list of the top five players who have shone with the bat and amassed a record number of runs.

Most runs in Indian T20 League 

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli sits firmly on top of the pile as the player with the most runs in Indian T20 League. The former Bangalore captain has amassed 6,283 runs in 207 matches and is best remembered for his exploits in the 2016 edition, where he scored a whopping 973 runs at an average of 81.08, which included four tons and seven half-centuries.

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan is by far the most prolific opening batter in the Indian T20 League, having accounted for 5,377 runs across spells for four different franchises (Delhi, Mumbai, Deccan and Hyderabad). In 192 matches, the southpaw has scored 5,784 runs at an average of 34.84.

Rohit Sharma

The most successful captain of the Indian T20 League sits third in the list with 5,611 runs from 213 matches. With only a solitary century to his name, which dates back to 2012, the Mumbai captain has scored at an average of 31.17 (the lowest in the list of five).

Suresh Raina

There is no denying the fact that Suresh Raina is a T20 legend. Raina has accumulated 5,528 runs in 205 innings at an average of 32.52 and is best remembered as one of the greatest finishers who always rescued Team Chennai in crunch situations.

David Warner

The Australia opener has played 11 out of 15 Indian T20 League seasons and enters as the leading overseas run-getter in the tournament’s history. Warner is the only player to score 500-plus runs in six successive campaigns between 2014 and 2020 and is best known for winning the Orange Cap thrice (2015, 2017 and 2019). In 150 matches, Warner has accumulated 5,449 runs at an average of 41.60 and 50 half-centuries to his name, the most by any batter in the Indian T20 League.

Author: Swapnil Bhopatkar

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Sajjad Hussain

The Indian T20 League, since its inception in 2008, has been a bystander to some of the most breathtaking bowling performances over the years. Right from Lasith Malinga’s inch-perfect yorkers to the devastating pace lengths of Harshal Patel, the spectators have been duly entertained by something extremely miraculous.

The nature of the league or the format per se is such that you are bound to stay connected right till the end. But what makes the league even more interesting is the fight to win the individual awards. In context, the Indian T20 League honours the bowler with the most number of wickets with a Purple Cap at the end of every season.

2008: Sohail Tanvir (Rajasthan)

Pakistani players played only the inaugural season of the league, and that was enough for Sohail Tanvir to assert his claim. Representing Rajasthan in 2008, the left-arm pacer played a key role in his side’s route to the final. During the course, he picked 22 wickets in 11 games at an impressive average of 12.09.

2009: RP Singh (Deccan)

RP Singh was an absolute revelation in the second edition of the tournament. Applauded for his mesmerizing in-swingers and an ability to find a gap between the pad and the bat, he notched up 23 wickets in 16 games to earn the Purple Cap that year.

2010: Pragyan Ojha (Deccan)

After two mediocre seasons, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha finally burst onto the scene in 2010 with a blistering performance for Deccan. Picking up 21 wickets in 16 games that year, he not only won the Purple Cap but also won the hearts of many.

2011: Lasith Malinga (Mumbai)

Four-time Indian T20 League winner with Mumbai, Lasith Malinga won the Purple Cap in only his third season of the tournament. In 2011, the Sri Lankan pacer returned with a total of 28 wickets in 16 games at a mere economy of 5.95.  

2012: Morne Morkel (Delhi)

Delhi have always been known for their strong overseas bowling core. In 2012, Morne Morkel delivered what was promised as he went on to pick 25 wickets in 16 games, but that, unfortunately, wasn’t enough as his side crashed out of the play-offs stage.

2013: Dwayne Bravo (Chennai)

In 2013, Chennai made it to their second consecutive Indian T20 League finals. While their batting was top-notch that year, their bowling contingent oozed similar confidence and a certain Dwayne Bravo was at the pinnacle of it. The West Indies all-rounder picked a whopping 32 wickets to win his first Purple Cap of the Indian T20 League. His figures in 2013 remain the best for any bowler in a single season.

2014: Mohit Sharma (Chennai)

Mohit Sharma arguably remains one of the finest finds of the Indian T20 League. In 2014, the medium-pacer topped the bowling charts after picking 23 wickets in 16 games for Chennai

2015: Dwayne Bravo (Chennai)

For the third time running, a Chennai bowler emerged as the highest wicket-taker of the Indian T20 League. In 2015, Dwayne Bravo became the first player to win the Purple Cap twice after he scalped 26 wickets in 17 games to take his team all the way to the final. He even took the joint-most catches - 13 - in that edition.

2016: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Hyderabad)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was a headache for the opposition batsmen in 2016. Playing for Hyderabad, his perfect line and length culminated in him picking 23 wickets in 17 games at an economy of 7.42 to win the Purple Cap that year.

2017: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Hyderabad)

Hyderabad failed to defend their title in 2017, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar once again topped the wicket-taking chart, becoming only the second player to win two Purple Caps. That year, he picked 26 wickets in just 14 games.

2018: Andrew Tye (Punjab)

Australian pacer Andrew Tye impressed one and all with his breathtaking performance in the 2018 edition of the tournament. That year, his three four-wicket hauls took his total tally to 24 wickets in just 14 games, which was enough to have a Purple Cap on his head. 

2019: Imran Tahir (Chennai)

Known for his extravagant celebrations, South African spinner Imran Tahir defeated his fellow countryman Kagiso Rabada to win the Purple Cap in 2019 after picking 26 wickets in 17 games at an economy rate of 6.69.

2020: Kagiso Rabada (Delhi) 

After missing out on the Purple Cap in 2020, Kagiso Rabada won the Purple Cap as he scalped 30 wickets in 17 matches at an economy rate of 8.34. The South African fought off competition from Mumbai's Jasprit Bumrah to finish as the leading wicket-taker in the 13th edition of the T20 extravaganza.

2021: Harshal Patel (Bangalore)

Harshal Patel had a season to remember in Indian T20 League 2021, as he matched Dwayne Bravo's record for most wickets in a single campaign (32). Patel also scripted history as the bowler with most wickets during the league phase of an Indian T20 League season, surpassing Lasith Malinga's 27 scalps in 2011.

Purple Cap winners in Indian T20 League

Player	Year	Wickets
Sohail Tanvir	2008	22
RP Singh	2009	23
Pragyan Ojha	2010	21
Lasith Malinga	2011	28
Morne Morkel	2012	25
Dwayne Bravo	2013	32
Mohi Sharma	2014	23
Dwayne Bravo	2015	26
Bhuvneshwar Kumar	2016	23
Bhuvneshwar Kumar	2017	26
Andrew Tye	2018	24
Imran Tahir	2019	26
Kagiso Rabada	2020	30
Harshal Patel	2021	32

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Sajjad Hussain

The 2021 edition of the Indian T20 League, which was postponed earlier this month due to a surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, will likely resume on September 18 or 19 in the UAE. The remaining part of the league will have 31 games, which is expected to take place in a three-week window. 

There will also be 10 double-headers and the final is expected to be held either on October 9 or 10. The tournament was earlier postponed on May 4 after several Covid-19 cases were reported in the tournament’s bio-bubble. 

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has spoken to all the stakeholders and the likely start could be between September 18th to 20th. Since September 18 is a Saturday and 19 a Sunday, it is more likely that you would want to restart it on a weekend date," a BCCI official told the Press Trust of India (PTI) on conditions of anonymity.

“Similarly, October 9th or 10th will be the final as it's a weekend. We are finalising the itinerary and there will be 10 double headers and seven evening matches along with four main games (two qualifiers, one eliminator and the final), which completes the list of 31 matches," the official added. 

It has also been reported that the Indian Test players, who will finish their tour of the United Kingdom on September 14 will be flown in for the tournament on a chartered flight. Similarly, players from the Caribbean will also fly to the Emirates.

There will only be a three-day quarantine period for all players, before they step onto the field. 

A franchise member also informed that the BCCI has already conveyed the matter to all the teams in the Indian T20 League.

“We have been told by the BCCI to be ready for the tournament. We have been given a September 15 to 20 window," a franchise official confirmed.

Featured photo: Twitter/IPL

Slow over rate is a term we frequently hear during cricket matches and is often followed by the news of a captain or a team being handed a penalty.

In the 2021 Indian T20 League, four captains - Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, Eoin Morgan and Virat Kohli - have already been fined INR 12 lakhs each as their teams maintained a slow over rate.

But what does slow over rate mean?

What is the over rate in cricket?

Over rate is the average number of overs bowled by the fielding side in an hour of play.

According to ICC’s rules, teams are expected to maintain an average of 15 overs per hour in Test Cricket, 14.28 in ODIs and 14.11 in T20s.

Essentially, in ODIs, the bowling side is given 3.5 hours to complete their quota of 50 overs and in T20s, teams are expected to complete their 20 overs while bowling with an hour and 25 minutes.

If teams exceed these pre-set marks, they are deemed to have a slow over rate, upon which, the governing body dishes out fines and in some cases, bans as well.

Is the over rate different in the Indian T20 League?

Including the two strategic timeouts, which last for two minutes and 30 seconds, the bowling side is expected to maintain an over rate of 14.11 and finish their quota of 20 overs in one hour and 30 minutes, barring any delays due to weather or any such unforeseen circumstances.

What is the penalty for a slow over rate?

Here are the penalties for slow over rate according to the Indian T20 League Code of Conduct:

1. For the first offence in a season, the captain of the bowling team will be fined 12 lakhs.
2. For the second offence in a season, the captain of the bowling team will be fined 24 lakhs and the other 10 players will either be fined six lakhs or 25% of their match fees, depending on which amount is lesser.
3. For the third and each subsequent offence in a season, the captain of the bowling team will be fined 30 lakhs and will also be banned for one match. The other 10 players in the team will also be fined 12 lakhs or 50% of their match fees, depending on which amount is lesser.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter.com / @imVkohli

Defending Indian T20 League champions Mumbai will look to extend their winning run on Saturday, April 17, when they host Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

After Team Kolkata choked in the dying moments of their clash with Mumbai on Tuesday, Hyderabad experienced a similar collapse a day after against Bangalore. And Rohit Sharma would be hopeful of his team's strong mentality to get the job done against David Warner's side as well.

Interestingly, Hyderabad can take encouragement from the fact that they have won 50% of their games against the five-time Indian T20 League champions, despite their grim record in Chepauk.

Mumbai vs Hyderabad head-to-head
Mumbai	Metrics	Hyderabad
16	Matches	16
8	Wins	8
50%	Win percentage	50%

 

Record at MA Chidambaram
Mumbai	Metrics	Hyderabad
10	Matches	5
6Â	Wins	0
60%	Win Percentage	0%

After losing their opening two matches in the Indian T20 League while chasing, Hyderabad would be hoping to win the toss and bat first this time, especially with their superior record against Mumbai while batting first.

Hyderabad have averaged 180.8 while batting first in their last five matches as opposed to Mumbai's average of 171 while batting first in the same number of matches. Hence, the coin toss will play an important role as well.

Coin Toss and H2H last 5 matches
Mumbai	Metrics	Hyderabad
3	Tosses Won	2
3	Matches Won	2
60%	Win Percentage	40%

The biggest threat for Hyderabad going into the match will be Mumbai's Kieron Pollard. The West Indian has garnered 383 runs against the Orange Army in 15 matches with two fifties to his name.

Similarly, Rohit Sharma will be hoping David Warner doesn't last long at the crease on Saturday given the Australian's record against Mumbai. Warner has 625 runs against Mumbai and has scored six half-centuries against them.

Despite having Jasprit Bumrah in his side, who has taken 12 wickets against Hyderabad so far, the Mumbai team will be wary of Sandeep Sharma, who has scalped 18 wickets against the team in 14 matches so far.

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Indranil Mukherjee

The Governing Council of the Indian T20 League met virtually on Monday and has opened trading windows till 20th January 2021 for all the franchises. In other words, the teams have to submit names of the players released and retained within a fortnight’s duration. The following auction of the tournament is chiefly to take place on 11th February 2021.

The next edition of the league was rumoured to be a 10 team tournament but the BCCI confirmed that it will go ahead with eight teams this season. The mini-auction would be a day-long event but the venue, time, and other details of the auction are not yet mentioned. It will take place during the break of the first two Test matches between India and England. The hosts welcome England for a four-match Test series which begins on 5th February. The initial two Tests will be held in Chennai, which logistically, would be easier to entertain the auctions. The two nations then move to Ahmedabad for the remainder of the red ball cricket series.

• Dale Steyn to skip Indian T20 League 2021

The venue of the 2021 Indian T20 League hasn’t been disclosed yet. Earlier, BCCI president, Sourav Ganguly was firm about the event taking place in India itself, but due to the ongoing pandemic, they are not closing any doors with UAE to be favourite to win the vote. According to reports, the council wants to have a look at how well the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy plays out and then might take a stand. The members will do their best to make the 2021 Indian T20 League in India itself.

Having a confirmation of the venue would make it easier for the franchises to build their team. That is the outset of this cricket auction - to release and retain current players. Each squad is allowed to retain just three players with two players allowed to be retained by the ‘Right To Match�card. The league enhances every team’s purse by 3 crores and it is largely to remain the same this year too. 

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Punit Paranjpe

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approved a 10-team Indian T20 League from the 2022 edition at its 89th Annual General Meeting in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

The inclusion of two new teams in 2022 means that the Indian T20 League 2021 will be played with the regular eigth teams and tenders will be floated for the addition of two new teams from the 2022 season. The board decided to set a regulation of one franchise per state, meaning that the likes of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, Rajasthan, and the union territories of Delhi and Chandigarh won't be able to field any more teams.

In another massive development, the apex body of Indian cricket has also decided to back ICC’s bid for the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States.

Speaking to the media, a board member who attended the meeting said that while the BCCI is open to the idea, they will take a call on the same only after discussing it further with the Indian Olympic Association on how the revenue will be shared and other commercial factors.

"Primarily it sounds a very good idea and the board is open to further discussions before a call is taken on the same. Will have to sit down with the IOA and take it forward from there as there are certain modalities that need to be discussed,�the member said.

The BCCI has also decided that the first-class players, both men and women, will be suitably remunerated for the season which has been heavily affected due to the pandemic. 

"Yes, domestic players will be compensated and the remuneration package will be worked out looking at who gets what. But there is no doubt that players will not suffer due to the effect the pandemic has had and that is confirmed," the member added.

The apex body of Indian cricket also plans to get the domestic season underway with the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 championship in January.

The BCCI board member has further stated that a call has been made to form a marketing committee that will look into the recent cases of conflict of interest and avoid such controversies in the near future.

"It was discussed that with an eye on the conflict of interest clause, a marketing committee will be formed to look into every deal that is signed so that there is no chance of any conflict," the BCCI official said.

In the BCCI AGM meeting, senior Congress leader Rajiv Shukla officially took over as the Board’s vice president in place of his protege Mahim Verma from Uttarakhand.

In other decisions, the general body decided in favour of Sourav Ganguly continuing as a director in the ICC Board.

Secretary Jay Shah will be the alternate director as well as India’s representative at the Chief Executive Committee meets of ICC.

Meanwhile, BCCI has named former pacer Chetan Sharma as the chairman of the national men's selection committee panel.

Sharma alongside Abey Kuruvilla and Debashish Mohanty will be part of the selection panel. The trio will replace Sarandeep Singh, Jatin Paranjape, and Devang Gandhi, whose tenures ended in September this year.

The three new members will join former India left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi and pace bowler Harvinder Singh who were picked as selectors in March, the BCCI said in a statement.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Arun Sankar