The Indian Premier League (IPL) has become a global phenomenon since its inception in 2008, with teams from various cities in India representing some of the most well-known brands in cricket. With the increasing popularity and commercial success of the IPL, it has expanded over the years, adding more franchises to the league.
However, despite the growing popularity, not every Indian city has a franchise in the IPL, and there have been several teams or regions that have never had the chance to participate in the tournament. In this article, we will explore the cities, regions, and teams that have never played in the IPL, delving into the reasons behind their exclusion, and what might have been had they been included in the competition.
Factors Behind Cities/Teams Never Playing in the IPL
- BCCI’s Franchise Selection Process: Initially, the Indian Premier League was launched with a set of franchises, and over the years, the BCCI has added more teams. However, many cities that have significant cricketing potential have not yet been selected due to various business, operational, and logistic concerns.
- Commercial and Sponsorship Concerns: The IPL requires significant investment, and some cities or regions might have been considered unfeasible for franchise owners to generate profits due to less marketability or a lack of commercial support.
- Competition from Established Teams: Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai have long-established fanbases and commercial markets. The competition in attracting a franchise might have been too high for other cities to secure a team.
- Regional Factors: Some regions might have been excluded due to political or social reasons, or because of challenges in stadium infrastructure or operational logistics.
Cities That Have Never Played in the IPL
To begin our exploration, we will identify some of the key cities and regions that have never hosted an IPL franchise and analyze their exclusion from the tournament.
| City/Region | Reason for Non-Inclusion | Population (Approx.) | Cricket Infrastructure | Notable Cricketing History |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | Initially not selected; later included with the addition of Gujarat Titans in 2022. | 8 million+ | Excellent (Narendra Modi Stadium) | Home to several international players like Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, and others. |
| Kanpur | Lack of commercial appeal and ownership. | 3 million+ | Good (Green Park Stadium) | Historic Test venue with passionate fans. |
| Lucknow | Later included in 2022 with the Lucknow Super Giants. | 3 million+ | Moderate (BRSABV Ekana Stadium) | Large fanbase, rising cricket culture. |
| Pune | Originally considered but faced commercial challenges. | 4 million+ | Good (MCA International Stadium) | Hosted Pune Warriors India for 2 years (2011-2013). |
| Rajkot | Not a primary commercial hub and competition for Gujarat franchise. | 1.5 million+ | Good (Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium) | No notable IPL franchise representation yet. |
| Visakhapatnam | Geographically not as competitive; infrastructure concerns. | 2 million+ | Good (Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium) | A growing cricketing culture in Andhra Pradesh. |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Political instability and security concerns have hampered investment. | 7 million+ | Limited (Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium) | A developing cricketing region with a passionate fanbase. |
| Bhopal | Lack of significant cricketing infrastructure and commercial appeal. | 2 million+ | Limited infrastructure | Known for a few domestic cricket matches but no IPL representation. |
| Trivandrum | Kerala’s cricket infrastructure and fan support not as strong as other regions. | 1 million+ | Good (Greenfield International Stadium) | Emerging cricket region with a growing fan base. |
| Chandigarh | Strong competition from Mohali franchise (Kings XI Punjab). | 1.1 million+ | Good (Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium) | Known for hosting domestic and international matches. |
Cities That Were Considered But Never Played in IPL
- Ahmedabad:
- Initial Exclusion: Ahmedabad, despite being the largest city in Gujarat, was not initially considered when the IPL began. It was a part of the discussion in the earlier years, but the franchise in the state was represented by Rajkot for Gujarat Lions (in 2016 and 2017), while the city of Ahmedabad itself did not host a franchise.
- Recent Inclusion: In 2022, Ahmedabad was finally included with the introduction of Gujarat Titans, which marked the city’s debut in IPL.
- Why Ahmedabad? The city boasts the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium, and has a rich cricketing history with players like Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel emerging from Gujarat.
- Kanpur:
- History: Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium has been a historic venue, hosting numerous international matches. However, despite having a loyal cricketing audience, Kanpur has never been included in the IPL.
- Reason: The city’s commercial market was deemed not as large or commercially viable compared to cities like Delhi or Mumbai. Additionally, Kanpur’s presence in a region with established teams like Lucknow (now) and Kolkata has made it a lesser contender.
- Cricketing Legacy: Kanpur has hosted multiple Test matches and One Day Internationals but lacks IPL representation.
- Pune:
- Inclusion as Pune Warriors India (2011-2013): Pune has previously been represented by Pune Warriors India, but this team lasted only for three seasons before being terminated.
- Reason for Termination: Pune Warriors India faced issues with its ownership and commercial viability, and despite having decent fan support, the franchise was not sustainable in the long run.
- Cricket Infrastructure: The city has a good cricket infrastructure with the MCA International Stadium and has often hosted domestic matches.
- Rajkot:
- Location of Gujarat Lions: Rajkot was the host city for Gujarat Lions, a temporary franchise introduced in 2016 and 2017, after the suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
- Commercial Constraints: Rajkot failed to secure a permanent franchise after the two years, and despite having a cricket stadium and passionate fans, it has not been included in the IPL.
- Visakhapatnam:
- Regional Competition: The Andhra Pradesh region has cricketing passion, but with franchises in neighboring Hyderabad (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Visakhapatnam has not been able to compete commercially.
- Stadium and Cricketing Infrastructure: The ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium is a good venue for international cricket, but Visakhapatnam’s IPL dream remains unrealized, with the focus largely on other southern cities.
- Jammu & Kashmir:
- Political Issues: Jammu & Kashmir has seen ongoing political unrest and security concerns, which have impacted cricketing ventures in the region.
- Stadium Infrastructure: Though the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium has hosted international matches, political instability has made it difficult to establish a strong commercial cricket base here.
- Trivandrum:
- Competition in Kerala: Kerala, though passionate about cricket, has not had a major IPL presence. Trivandrum is home to the Greenfield International Stadium, but the competition from Kochi, another major Kerala city, and other southern teams has kept Trivandrum away from an IPL franchise.
- Chandigarh:
- Proximity to Mohali: Chandigarh’s cricketing presence has always been overshadowed by Mohali’s franchise, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). The proximity to Mohali has diminished the likelihood of Chandigarh receiving an IPL team.
- Cricketing Infrastructure: Though Chandigarh’s cricketing infrastructure is impressive, it lacks a commercial market strong enough to support an independent franchise.
Conclusion
Although the IPL has expanded over the years, there are several cities and regions in India that have never participated in the league. Some cities, like Ahmedabad, have recently been included, while others like Kanpur, Rajkot, and Jammu & Kashmir continue to wait for their opportunity. Factors such as commercial viability, infrastructure, and competition from nearby regions have all played a role in these cities’ exclusion from the IPL.
As the IPL continues to evolve, there remains the potential for new franchises and cities to make their mark in the tournament, and only time will tell whether any of these unrepresented regions will be given the opportunity to join the IPL fold in the future.