T20, the shortened format of the game has caught everyone’s attention. The dynamic nature of the T20 format and the explosive hitting provide spectators a nail-biting experience. Most of the fans tend to watch T20 and keep up with their cricket divertissement. After the concept of T20 exalted many T20 leagues got on the road and gained prominent adulation. Let’s have a look at the TOP 10 Famous T20 Leagues of the World.
1. Indian Premier League
It won’t be wrong if we consider IPL as the no.1 T20 League of the world. It was started by the BCCI in 2007 and the first edition came in 2008 where 8 teams and various domestic and international cricketers participated. It not only increased the brand value of cricket but also gave a platform to young players to unleash their talent. What makes it an action-packed league is the super overs, cut-throat competition, and the massive number of sixes. It is also the richest cricket league in the world with its brand value being 47,500 crores INR and numerous brands investing in it. The 2021 IPL season is supposed to resume on September 19th
2. Big Bash League
Big Bash League was initiated by Cricket Board of Australia in 2011. It is the second richest T20 league in the world, with its broadcasting income being $1.12b and KFC being its sponsor from the start. Total of eight teams comprising regional and international players participate in the tournament with utmost enthusiasm. It is also the first cricketing board to have come up with the Women’s T20 League which is known as Women’s Big Bash League.
3. Pakistan Super League
Undertaken by the Pakistan Cricket Board, PSL took off in the United Arab Emirates in 2016 with five teams. Although it was organized in a different country it received full support from Pakistani folks all around the world. However, the recent season was organized in Pakistan but was postponed for an indefinite period due to increasing COVID-19 cases. PSL’s market value is $300M and its broadcasting value is $36M. It is a source of entertainment and income, simultaneously.
4. Caribbean Premier League
The Caribbean league was launched in 2013 with six teams and received a positive response from the crowd and the sponsors. It has a strong set of power hitters that makes the game more intense and edgy. Its current brand value is $102M and Hero MotoCorp is their title sponsor. The involvement of Bollywood celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan made this league popular among the Indian diasporas.
5. T20 Blast League
England’s oldest domestic T20 League focuses more on providing an opportunity to the domestic/grass root players. Eighteen teams from England and Wales participate in the tournament. It was launched by ECB in 2003 to give domestic players a boom, its broadcasting rights are held by Sky Sports for $120M. The Blast will face tough competition from “the hundred” the 100-ball league of England since it lacks proper scheduling and the glamour of international players.
6. Ram Slam T20 League
South Africa’s T20 league is said to be one of the oldest domestic T20 leagues and came up with its first edition in 2003-04. The presence of T20 specialists like AB De Villiers, David Miller, and other South African cricketing stars helped it gain popularity. The recent edition came in 2019 and was broadcasted on Super Sports.
7. Bangladesh Premier League
The Franchise based tournament, BPL was established by the Bangladesh Cricket Board in 2012 and received a booming response from its cricket crazy audience. The league produced some of the finest world-class players such as Liton Das and Mustafizur Rahman. It reportedly generated $51M through sponsorships and seems to have caught many eyes. It was renamed “Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier league” in 2019.
8. Global T20 League
Canada is not a prominent cricketing nation but they’ve been trying to set their foot in the cricketing world for a long time. They came up with the Global T20 League in 2018. This star-studded league faced a backlog because of COVID-19, but it will be held in Malaysia following the COVID-19 protocols. It has helped the domestic cricketers from Canada to come forward and display what they have got.
9. Lanka Premier League
Sri Lanka Premier League’s first season came out in 2012, and the rest of the seasons were canceled for successive years. In 2020 Sri Lanka Cricket Board came up with its alternative named Lanka Premier League. It is played among seven teams and is broadcasted by Carlton Sports Network, ESPN, Star Sports, and Asian Television Network. LPL received an overwhelming response from the Sri Lankan Diaspora and the sponsors.
10. Tamil Nadu Premier League
Despite being a league that sticks with domestic players, TNPL has gained immense popularity among people. It was launched in 2016 by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. It is usually organized during July and August with local teams competing for the title. It is sponsored by India Cements and Shriram Group and its broadcasting rights were bought by Star Indian for a whopping amount of 7.1 crore INR.
