'We're not looking to add any more teams in the IPL'
IPL chief executive Sundar Raman speaks about the future of the league, the hit it took this year, giving the franchises more power, and more
I don't know what your definition of "toned down" is but clearly the view of the management is very different and the view of the board is very different, and as a management team we go out and deliver what we believe is good for the tournament and something that helps us build the tournament within the governance that has been laid down by the board.
Ticketing, entertainment. Pre-match, post-match. Their own licensing arrangements, etc.
That is untrue because, firstly, when EPL was formed, the governing body was formed by the teams. Here the teams were formed by the governing body. And clearly, as I said, we are a nascent league and the focus of the governing body is to govern the sport, regulations and fair practices and stuff like that. I think that's exactly what it is. At a nascent stage, we will do whatever is in the interest of the sport and the interest of the franchise. We are working together with the franchises very closely. Franchises are working closely amongst themselves, and I think it is a league growing from within.
Sure, I think that has always been the case. There have been consultations that have happened in the past. There will be consultations that will happen in the future, but the decisions need to be taken in the interest of the sport.
"Considering [we had] 74 matches, you started to feel that 94 matches would have been a little too much. If we have to have 94, clearly the window needs to be longer. We will not be able to do it in 50 days"
I don't think there is a time table. As I said, it is an evolutionary process. We will continue to evolve as a league.
Some of it is part of the strategic plan. Some is opportunistic because of technological development or innovation in various stages. Who knows what's in store for us in the next 10 years or next 15 years? For us, the larger goal is how we can be the most well-organised, well-run, successful sporting league in the world. And that's what we are working towards. You have to understand, it is an exclusive club of 10 [franchises] as of now.
The view of the board currently is not to add any more teams, and I think that's possibly the sanest view. I think any more teams are not going to add to the sport. Maybe [it could be] different 15 years from now.
We need to go through the years to see. But the auction has worked. It is proven that every team has a fair opportunity for a player and that's the way we will continue.
From a cricketing standpoint, from an administration standpoint, it is about, "Is it building the sport and giving an opportunity to players?" If you see our trophy, it says "where talent meets opportunity", and that's what the league stands for.
I think it is not a goalpost that here and now we have achieved that goalpost. I think directionally we are excellent, we are very much there. You see the Indian bench strength and significant contributions will be because of our ability to put the best of talent available, to give them the opportunity. That's for everyone to see.
The format and the exciting talent. I think those are the two things. They get to see the best of talent compete against each other in a format that makes it nail-biting, and the bit about unpredictability is always there.
I think Lalit brought in the vision, and had the bold thinking and created this entire piece. And I think there is no [other] way that you would speak - as a person who is not connected to the IPL - about the fact that he did put this together as the chairman of the governing council.
It allows you to do that for the four players who you could have potentially retained. If you look at it, across the eight teams, a maximum of 12 players were retained. That's an average of [less than] two per team. There were only two teams that retained all four players.
It has not, from the results that you see. It was intended [to solve the problem of maintaining] continuity while bringing in fresh blood and that's what it is. Punjab was a brand new team and they were almost there.
That's fine. Two of those teams are in the last three but then they were in the last three last years also.
One team [Kolkata] which did not retain anybody was in the top four. [Also, Bangalore, who retained only Virat Kohli, made the final].
The franchisees know. The players know and there is a certain contract which has terms and conditions, which has been signed by all the players, so I don't think there is any secrecy in this.
I think this format worked very well. Considering [we had] 74 matches, you started to feel that 94 matches would have been a little too much. If we have to have 94, clearly the window needs to be longer. We will not be able to do it in 50 days.
The exhibition of talent. The opportunity that it provides for people. It breaks barriers in the dressing room.
The summer. Just the heat.
As I said, we are a continually evolving process and I don't think it is about today, here, now. It could be on a daily basis, it could be on a weekly basis. It could be on a venue basis. It could be on a regulatory basis. It could be across the board.
It hasn't set the world on fire for sure, but I guess it is taking its time. It is building slowly and steadily.
I don't think that's a point. I think you will still buy a David Beckham jersey when he was with Manchester United and when he decided not to be with them. I think that helps more merchandising.
Tariq Engineer is a senior sub-editor at Cricinfo