IPL in USA? This move could change cricket forever

• BCCI discusses holding IPL exhibition games in the USA
• KKR CEO Venky Mysore eyes matches at the new LA Olympic venue
• The move aims to grow cricket markets following MLC expansion

The Indian Premier League (IPL) continues to harbour global ambitions, and as part of that vision, there is a possibility of the T20 league hosting matches at the Olympic cricket stadium in Los Angeles

in the future. The ICC recently announced that construction has begun on the venue that will host cricket matches at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

In an interview with BBC Sport, Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore confirmed that the BCCI has held talks about staging exhibition games in an effort to grow cricket in the United States.

“Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Mysore was quoted as saying by the publication. “The challenge is always player availability. Once the IPL season is over, everyone’s calendars are packed and they’re running in different directions.”

“But the BCCI has talked about a couple of teams going out and playing exhibition games to grow cricket… so that’s always on the agenda,” he added.

The IPL has previously been held outside India, but only due to general assembly elections in the country and during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there have also been reports of the tournament exploring the possibility of staging off-season matches overseas.

The Los Angeles cricket venue will also serve as the home ground of KKR’s Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise, the Los Angeles Knight Riders. It will initially have a capacity of 5,000 spectators, which is expected to increase to 8,500 by 2027 and eventually to 15,000 for the Summer Games.

“This is my 16th season with the IPL and we’ve tried every year, but somehow it hasn’t happened. There’s a real opportunity to piggyback on what’s happening with MLC to grow the market further,” Mysore said.

“When viewership goes up, it has a positive effect on things like media rights. It makes a lot of sense. But first things first – we have to deliver what we’ve started here,” he added.