Updated October 2026 | All stats are as of the end of IPL 2026 (final played 31 May 2026).
Quick answer: IPL history begins in September 2007, when the BCCI launched the league, and its first season was played in April 2008. Lalit Modi, then a BCCI vice-president, led the project. Eight city-based franchises were sold at an auction on 24 January 2008 for a combined US$723.59 million, and the first season ended on 1 June 2008 with Rajasthan Royals, captained by Shane Warne, beating Chennai Super Kings in the final. Across 19 seasons the league has grown to ten teams, survived a betting scandal, been halted mid-season in 2021 and again for a week in 2025, and been played abroad, in full or in part, in four seasons.
| IPL history at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Launched | September 2007, by the BCCI |
| Led by | Lalit Modi, then a BCCI vice-president |
| Franchise auction | 24 January 2008, Mumbai: eight franchises, US$723.59 million in total |
| First match | 18 April 2008, Kolkata Knight Riders v Royal Challengers Bangalore, Bengaluru |
| First champions | Rajasthan Royals, 2008 |
| Seasons played | 19, from 2008 to 2026 |
| Teams today | Ten |
| Most titles | Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, five each |
The Short Version for Readers in a Hurry
The IPL is a franchise cricket league that began as a response to a rival. In 2007 a private league, the Indian Cricket League, started recruiting players outside the BCCI’s control. The BCCI answered in September 2007 by announcing its own tournament, built on city franchises that investors would buy, and it sold those franchises in January 2008 for US$723.59 million, well above the combined base price of US$400 million.
The first season was played in April and May 2008. Since then the league has changed shape several times, in both size and format. It added teams in 2011, lost some of them, suspended two of its biggest franchises for two seasons after a betting scandal, was played abroad because of general elections in 2009 and part of 2014 and because of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and the second half of 2021, was halted in the middle of a season in 2021 and again for a week in 2025, and returned to ten teams in 2022. Along the way it became the sport’s richest league, and its auction now produces prices such as the ₹27 crore paid for Rishabh Pant in 2025.
Background and Context: Why the IPL Was Needed
Two competing ideas for a new Indian league arrived within months of each other in 2007.
The first was the Indian Cricket League, launched in 2007 by the Essel Group. The BCCI and the ICC did not recognise it, and the BCCI banned players who joined it from official cricket. The ICL closed in 2009.
The second was the IPL. The BCCI launched it in September 2007, and Lalit Modi, then a BCCI vice-president, led the initiative. The plan was built on eight franchises tied to cities. The franchises were sold at an auction in January 2008, and the players were bought at a separate auction a month later. The first season then ran from 18 April to 1 June 2008.
What Actually Happened in IPL History, in Order
This table follows the main events from the launch to the present.
| Date | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| September 2007 | The BCCI launches the IPL, led by Lalit Modi | The start of the league, announced months after the rival ICL began |
| 24 January 2008 | Franchise auction in Mumbai: eight franchises sold for US$723.59 million, against a combined base price of US$400 million | Mumbai Indians cost the most (US$111.9 million, Reliance Industries), with Royal Challengers Bangalore second (US$111.6 million) |
| 20 February 2008 | First player auction in Mumbai | MS Dhoni, bought by Chennai Super Kings, was the costliest buy |
| 18 April 2008 | First match: Kolkata Knight Riders beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 140 runs in Bengaluru | Brendon McCullum made an unbeaten 158 off 73 balls, a Twenty20 record at the time |
| 1 June 2008 | Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings by three wickets in the final | Shane Warne’s side won the first title |
| 2009 | The season is played in South Africa because of India’s general elections | Deccan Chargers beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by six runs in the final in Johannesburg |
| 2011 | Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala join, taking the league to ten teams; the Qualifier and Eliminator playoff format is introduced | The only time before 2022 that the league had ten teams |
| September 2011 | Kochi Tuskers Kerala, who played one season, are terminated | The league goes from ten teams to nine for 2012 |
| 2013 | Deccan Chargers are terminated after the 2012 season and replaced by Sunrisers Hyderabad; a spot-fixing scandal breaks; Pune Warriors leave after the 2013 season | The league settles at eight teams for 2014 |
| 2014 | Part of the season is played in the UAE because of general elections | The second season to move abroad for that reason |
| 14 July 2015 | A Supreme Court-appointed committee led by Justice R.M. Lodha suspends Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for two years | Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions play in 2016 and 2017 in their place |
| 2018 | Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals return | Chennai win the title in their first season back |
| 2020 | The season is played in the UAE during the Covid-19 pandemic, from 19 September to 10 November | Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Capitals in the final in Dubai |
| 2021 | The season is suspended on 4 May with 31 of 60 matches left, and resumes in the UAE on 19 September | Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders in the final on 15 October |
| 2022 | Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans join | The league returns to ten teams, and Gujarat win the title in their first season |
| 2023 | The Impact Player rule is introduced, and wides and no-balls become reviewable | Both changes took effect in the 2023 season |
| 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru win their first title, after 17 seasons; the season is suspended on 9 May because of military tensions between India and Pakistan and resumes on 17 May | The Right to Match card returns at the Jeddah mega auction, where Pant becomes the costliest player |
| 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru win again, beating Gujarat Titans in the final on 31 May | They became the third team to win back-to-back titles, after Chennai (2010 and 2011) and Mumbai (2019 and 2020) |
The first season in detail
The first IPL match, on 18 April 2008 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, set the tone. Kolkata Knight Riders made 222 for three, McCullum scored 158 not out off 73 balls with 13 sixes and 10 fours, and Royal Challengers Bangalore were bowled out for 82. The innings was the highest in Twenty20 cricket until Chris Gayle made 175 not out in the IPL in 2013, and it is still the second-highest in IPL history. You can read more about that record on our highest individual score in IPL history page.
The season ended on 1 June 2008. Rajasthan Royals, a side built around young players and led by Shane Warne, beat Chennai Super Kings by three wickets in the final. Shaun Marsh of Kings XI Punjab was the leading run scorer with 616 runs, a figure that is recorded in our Orange Cap winners list.
Key People Involved
| Person | Role | Why they matter |
|---|---|---|
| Lalit Modi | BCCI vice-president in 2007 | Led the creation of the league and the franchise sale |
| Shane Warne | Captain, Rajasthan Royals | Captained the first title-winning side in 2008 |
| MS Dhoni | Player and captain, Chennai Super Kings | The costliest buy at the first player auction and the winner of five titles as captain; see his career page |
| Brendon McCullum | Opener, Kolkata Knight Riders | Scored the unbeaten 158 in the first match |
| Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries) | Owner, Mumbai Indians | Paid the highest price at the franchise auction |
| Vijay Mallya | Owner, Royal Challengers Bangalore | Paid the second-highest price at the franchise auction |
The owners matter as much as the players. The franchise model turned the IPL from a tournament into a set of businesses, and several of those businesses have since changed hands. The two franchise-owning groups that joined in 2022, RPSG Group (Lucknow Super Giants) and CVC Capital (Gujarat Titans), came in through a new bidding round held in 2021.
The Aftermath and What Changed
The league changed in four main ways after 2008.
- The number of teams moved up and down. It had eight teams in 2008, ten in 2011, nine in 2012 and 2013, eight from 2014 to 2021, and ten since 2022. One of the original eight franchises, Deccan Chargers, was terminated after 2012. Of the teams added in 2011, Kochi Tuskers Kerala played only that season, and Pune Warriors India left after 2013.
- The rules grew. The playoffs changed in 2011, and the Impact Player rule and reviews for wides and no-balls arrived in 2023. Two bouncers per over were allowed from 2024. See our IPL rules explained section for the details.
- The money grew. The winner’s prize rose from ₹4.8 crore in 2008 to ₹20 crore, which has been the figure in every season since 2021. At the auction, the purse each team starts a mega auction with grew from ₹80 crore in 2018 to ₹120 crore in 2025.
- The geography changed. The league has been played abroad in 2009, part of 2014, 2020 and part of 2021, and its auction has been held abroad three years in a row from 2024.
The 2013 betting scandal had the largest effect on the structure. After the Lodha committee’s ruling in July 2015, Chennai and Rajasthan missed the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Chennai came back in 2018 and won the title that year, and Rajasthan returned in the same season.
How many teams played each season
| Seasons | Teams | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 to 2010 | Eight | The original eight franchises |
| 2011 | Ten | Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala joined |
| 2012 and 2013 | Nine | Kochi Tuskers Kerala were terminated; Sunrisers Hyderabad replaced Deccan Chargers for 2013 |
| 2014 to 2021 | Eight | Pune Warriors India left after 2013; Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions replaced the suspended teams in 2016 and 2017 |
| 2022 to 2026 | Ten | Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans joined |
Teams that came and went
| Franchise | Seasons | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Deccan Chargers | 2008 to 2012 | Won the 2009 title; terminated after the 2012 season and replaced by Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Kochi Tuskers Kerala | 2011 | Played one season and was terminated |
| Pune Warriors India | 2011 to 2013 | Left after the 2013 season |
| Rising Pune Supergiant | 2016 and 2017 | Replaced the suspended Chennai Super Kings; runners-up in 2017 |
| Gujarat Lions | 2016 and 2017 | Replaced the suspended Rajasthan Royals |
Where Things Stand Today
The IPL now has ten teams and has completed 19 seasons. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the reigning champions, with titles in 2025 and 2026, and they beat Gujarat Titans in the 2026 final on 31 May 2026. The 2026 season had 74 matches.
| Season | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2009 | Deccan Chargers | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| 2010 | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai Indians |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| 2012 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2013 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2014 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Punjab Kings |
| 2015 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| 2017 | Mumbai Indians | Rising Pune Supergiant |
| 2018 | Chennai Super Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| 2019 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians | Delhi Capitals |
| 2021 | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| 2022 | Gujarat Titans | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Gujarat Titans |
| 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Punjab Kings |
| 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Gujarat Titans |
| Franchise | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | 5 | 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023 |
| Mumbai Indians | 5 | 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 3 | 2012, 2014, 2024 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2 | 2025, 2026 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 1 | 2008 |
| Deccan Chargers | 1 | 2009 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 | 2016 |
| Gujarat Titans | 1 | 2022 |
Eight different franchises have won the title in 19 seasons, and 11 have reached a final. For each team’s record, see the IPL teams guide, and for every season’s leading scorers and wicket-takers, see the IPL records page. The league also runs its auction as a global event: the most recent mega auction was held in Jeddah in November 2024, and the 2026 mini auction in Abu Dhabi.
Common Myths and What the Record Actually Shows
| Myth | What the record shows |
|---|---|
| The IPL began in 2007. | The BCCI launched it in September 2007, but the first season was played from April to June 2008. |
| Only Chennai and Mumbai have ever won it. | They have won five titles each, but eight different franchises have won in 19 seasons. |
| Deccan Chargers still play. | They won the 2009 title, but they were terminated after the 2012 season and replaced by Sunrisers Hyderabad. |
| The IPL has always been played in India. | It was played in South Africa in 2009 and in the UAE in 2020, and the 2014 and 2021 seasons were partly played in the UAE. |
| The league has always had eight teams. | It has had eight, ten and nine teams at different times, and has had ten since 2022. |
| Chennai and Rajasthan were removed from the league for good. | They were suspended for two seasons, 2016 and 2017, and returned in 2018. |
| Royal Challengers will never win the title. | They won back-to-back titles in 2025 and 2026, after 17 seasons without one. |
Related guides: IPL captaincy records, greatest IPL XIs, the IPL auction explained, IPL rules explained, all history guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the IPL start?
The BCCI launched the IPL in September 2007, with Lalit Modi leading the project. Eight franchises were sold at an auction on 24 January 2008 for US$723.59 million, and the first season was played from 18 April to 1 June 2008.
Why did the IPL start?
The BCCI launched the IPL in 2007, the same year that the rival Indian Cricket League began signing players. The BCCI did not recognise the ICL and banned players who joined it, and the ICL closed in 2009.
What changed after the IPL started?
The league grew from eight to ten teams, lost and replaced several franchises, introduced new playoff and playing rules, and saw its prizes and auction prices rise. It has also been played abroad several times, most recently in the UAE in 2020 and part of 2021.
Who won the first IPL?
Rajasthan Royals won the first IPL in 2008, beating Chennai Super Kings by three wickets in the final on 1 June 2008. Shane Warne was their captain.
Which IPL teams no longer exist?
Deccan Chargers (terminated after 2012), Kochi Tuskers Kerala (played only 2011), Pune Warriors India (left after 2013), and Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions, which played in 2016 and 2017 as replacements for the suspended Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
When was the IPL suspended?
The 2021 season was suspended on 4 May 2021, with 31 of its 60 matches still to be played, and finished in the UAE, with the final on 15 October. The 2025 season was also suspended, for a week from 9 May 2025, because of military tensions between India and Pakistan; it resumed on 17 May and the final was played on 3 June. Separately, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended for two seasons in 2015 and missed 2016 and 2017.