5 Things England's T20 Blast Could Learn from the IPL

One tournament, the Indian Premier League, is an example of how a Twenty20 competition can be run successfully and generate enormous excitement.

The other, the NatWest t20 Blast, is perhaps less successful than its Indian counterpart, even though it is held in England where T20 cricket was first pioneered over 10 years ago.

With that in mind, what can the English league learn from its Indian counterpart if it is to grow and be more important in the cricketing world?

Let’s have a look at five ways it could improve, based on what the IPL does already.

A Franchise System

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First, one way the IPL has been very successful is by having a city-based franchise system, something that has been mirrored in other T20 leagues across the world.

In India, the franchises created new brands that could be used to bring in more sponsorship revenue and investment, even for the likes of Rajasthan in a relatively remote part of the country.

England could potentially have eight franchises at the country’s biggest and best grounds, while there is also scope for having them in other cities where counties play.

It may help to freshen things up, as Warwickshire have tried to do by renaming themselves the Birmingham Bears.

Celebrities Owning Franchises

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Within these new franchises, could celebrities from inside and outside the world of cricket be convinced to invest and throw their support behind them?

It certainly seems to have worked in India, where Bollywood film superstars rub shoulders with the great and good of the game.

That could also encourage more casual fans of the sport to tune in, especially if their franchise has a backer from that same city.

Player Auction

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Part of the anticipation of the impending IPL season is the player auction, which sees numerous individuals from all over the world bid upon by teams.

It serves as a way to ramp up the hype ahead of the tournament, especially when the very best players are prised away from their current teams and added to a new roster.

Perhaps if England’s T20 tournament were more like the IPL and had an auction, the anticipation might build well before it begins.

Designated Window in the Calendar

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One of the key aspects of the IPL’s success is that it occupies a set place in the cricket calendar and has the approval of the International Cricket Council.

Its importance is thus recognized within the international cricket community, even if that may say more about the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s influence than anything else.

If England’s T20 competition were to be relatively unmoving, it would create more coherence for a competition that has not yet found a settled place in a packed season.

More Overseas Players

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Bringing legions of overseas players has helped the IPL become widely popular around the world, and it could well do the same in England.

The best of the best help push up standards of play, while those on the fringes of international recognition can launch themselves forward with their performances.

It encourages far greater competition for places too, and does not allow domestic players to become too comfortable, even if there are quotas involved preventing too many foreign players playing at once.