India, March 17 -- The IPL, BCCI's 'domestic' tournament, pushed cricket into the modern era and made India a global leader in the game. 18 years since it started, a look at the impact it has had on cricket.
IPL occupies eight weeks of the calendar (April-May) and other national leagues jostle for space rest of the year. With T20 becoming the preferred format of fans, bilateral cricket has taken a hit and Tests are in terminal decline, struggling for survival.
IPL's stunning commercial success (media rights alone are worth Rs.10,000 crore annually) provides India economic muscle, which in turn brings power and control. India sits on cricket's high table and decides where others sit. The remote that controls cricket is in India's hands.
I...