Since its inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen 18 editions, captivating cricket fans with thrilling T20 matches. The tournament, known as the world’s richest franchise T20 league, is usually held in India, where it generates significant revenue from sponsors. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) prefers to host the IPL domestically to boost the nation’s economy through taxes and reinvest the earnings into developing Indian cricket, including player training and infrastructure..
Four Instances When IPL Took Place Outside India and Why
IPL 2009 in South Africa
The second edition of the IPL, held in 2009, was hosted in South Africa. The primary reason for this shift was India’s general elections, which were scheduled between April 16 and May 13 that year. Given the scale of these elections, the Indian government informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that it would be unable to provide adequate security for the tournament due to the deployment of paramilitary forces for election duties. Faced with this situation, the BCCI decided to move the entire tournament to South Africa.
South Africa, with its established cricketing infrastructure and experience in hosting international tournaments, was chosen as the alternative venue. All 59 matches of the 2009 edition were played across various venues in the country. The Deccan Chargers, a now-defunct franchise, emerged as the champions by defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Royal Challengers Bengaluru) in the final at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium.
IPL 2014 (First Leg) in the UAE
Five years later, in 2014, the IPL once again faced a scheduling conflict with India’s general elections. The elections were set between April 7 and May 12, 2014, and the Indian government once again expressed its inability to provide adequate security for the tournament. To ensure the event’s smooth conduct, the BCCI decided to move the first phase of IPL 2014 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
During this phase, 20 matches were played across three UAE cities – Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi. After the elections concluded, the tournament returned to India for the remaining 40 games. Kolkata Knight Riders, led by Gautam Gambhir, won the 2014 title by defeating Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the final at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
IPL 2020 in the UAE
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 caused global disruption, and the IPL was no exception. Initially postponed indefinitely, the tournament was eventually rescheduled to be held in the UAE between September and November 2020. This decision was made to ensure the safety of players, staff, and fans as India struggled with rising COVID-19 cases.
The UAE, with its bio-secure environment and three main venues – Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah – proved to be a reliable host. All 60 matches were successfully conducted in these venues, and Mumbai Indians, led by Rohit Sharma, clinched their fifth IPL title by defeating Delhi Capitals in the final at the Dubai International Stadium.
IPL 2021 (Second Leg) in the UAE
IPL 2021 was initially conducted in India from April 9. However, midway through the tournament, a surge in COVID-19 cases led to several players testing positive, prompting the BCCI to suspend the event on May 4. After a brief hiatus, the tournament resumed in the UAE from September 19 to October 15.
The UAE’s bio-secure environment once again proved ideal for the event. Chennai Super Kings, led by MS Dhoni, emerged victorious by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in the final at the Dubai International Stadium.
In conclusion, the IPL has always been a massive sporting spectacle, and the BCCI has consistently ensured its uninterrupted conduct, even if it meant moving it outside India. These four instances reflect the BCCI’s commitment to maintaining the tournament’s continuity, regardless of the challenges.
