What lessons did IPL learn from ICL (Indian Cricket League)?


IPL 2023 Winner

the rebel league that walked so the IPL could run (and fly 💸). The Indian Cricket League (2007–2009) was unofficial, unsanctioned, and eventually banned, but it planted a lot of seeds. The BCCI may have dismissed it publicly, but behind the scenes? They took serious notes.

Here’s a breakdown of what the IPL learned (and perfected) from the ICL’s rise and fall:

🧠 1. Structure & Sanction: Official Is Everything

  • ICL Mistake: Not recognized by BCCI or ICC → became a rebel league.

  • IPL Lesson: Operate within the system.

    • IPL was launched by the BCCI with full ICC backing.

    • That brought in official players, sponsors, venues, broadcasters.

📌 Lesson: Legitimacy trumps disruption. Always get the governing bodies on board.

📺 2. Broadcast Power = League Lifeblood

  • ICL had Zee Entertainment, but lacked reach and hype.

  • IPL partnered with Sony-Max and later Star Sports, turning it into a TV spectacle with:

    • Prime-time scheduling

    • Pre-match shows

    • Film-star glam + cricket drama

📌 Lesson: The league isn’t just about cricket — it’s about eyeballs.

💰 3. Invest in Star Power (Indian + Overseas)

  • ICL had some solid players (Inzamam, Cairns, Brian Lara, a few Indian ex-players) but no big Indian names.

  • IPL launched with:

    • Dhoni, Sachin, Sehwag, Dravid

    • Ponting, Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Symonds

📌 Lesson: You need both current stars and national heroes to hook fans.

🧱 4. Franchise Model with City-Based Loyalty

  • ICL teams were loosely based on regions, but didn’t build deep local connections.

  • IPL introduced a clear franchise structure:

    • Strong city identity (Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians)

    • Local support + celebrity owners + strong branding

📌 Lesson: Build teams that feel like a home team.

📊 5. Professional Management + Bidding Systems

  • ICL player recruitment was informal.

  • IPL introduced auctions, salary caps, and transparent player contracts.

📌 Lesson: Structure = sustainability.

👨‍👨‍👧‍👦 6. Fan Experience & Marketing Masterclass

  • ICL had limited buzz.

  • IPL leaned into entertainment + marketing:

    • Cheerleaders, anthems, theme songs

    • Catchy slogans ("India Ka Tyohaar")

    • Celebs like Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Akshay Kumar owning teams

📌 Lesson: Make it more than a game — make it a spectacle.

🔐 7. Protect Player Pathways

  • ICL banned players were blacklisted from Indian cricket.

  • IPL created clear policies for domestic players, giving them:

    • Exposure

    • Pathway to India caps (e.g. Bumrah, Pandya, Ruturaj, Surya)

📌 Lesson: Work with the system to elevate players, not isolate them.

💣 8. Learn from ICL’s Collapse (Money + Legal)

  • ICL had funding challenges, legal issues, no long-term roadmap.

  • IPL built a bulletproof legal + commercial framework:

    • Franchise agreements

    • Central revenue share

    • Strategic long-term planning

📌 Lesson: Don’t just launch a league — build an ecosystem.

🏁 Final Word:

The ICL may have fizzled, but it was IPL’s blueprint in disguise.
BCCI saw what worked, what failed, and created a sanctioned, superstar-loaded, city-based carnival that took over the cricketing world.

💬 “The ICL was the idea. The IPL was the execution.”