
The Indian Premier League is also known as the IPL and it has developed Twenty20 cricket in a unique way. They have taken this cricket to new heights with plenty of sporting drama and excitement. The people of India are very passionate about their cricket and have embraced the IPL. The stadiums are always packed as people clamour to witness this great sporting spectacle.
All the teams have distinctive names such as the Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and the Rajasthan Royals. This may not be to everyone's taste but it gives each team a unique identity. They also have a distinctive logo or team emblem. The teams play in coloured kit similar to the ones worn in international one day cricket.
Because of the large sums of money on offer, the IPL is able to attract the world's best cricketers. The end result is a formidable looking team which consists of a mixture of overseas stars playing alongside the home grown talent. There is an annual auction which takes place some time before the actual tournament. The auction allows teams to bid for players. There is also a window of opportunity where teams can swap players if they wish to do so.
Teams in the IPL play each other twice after which the top four teams enter the semi-final stage. The winners of those two matches then meet in the showpiece final where the overall winner is decided. The Indian Premier League lasts for around six weeks. Rajasthan Royals were the winners of the first ever tournament. They were led by the legendary Australian spin bowler Shane Warne.
The Indian Premier League makes for compulsive viewing for all cricket fans. Television companies all over the globe hand over vast sums of money for rights to screen the games on domestic sports channels. There is no doubt this brand of Twenty20 cricket has become hugely popular. There are some people who prefer it compared to the test and one day versions of the game.