10 Indian cities who deserve their own IPL franchise

There are a huge number of IPL fans in small cities of India
There are a huge number of IPL fans in small cities of India

Indian Premier League (IPL) was introduced in 2008 as a unique initiative by the BCCI as a competition amongst various franchises from the top cities of the country. 8 teams namely Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan Royals and Deccan Chargers took part in the inaugural season of the league. Jaipur-based Rajasthan Royals won the first ever IPL.

The ever-growing popularity of the league led to the board introducing two more teams in Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011. However, both the franchises were disbanded soon as IPL again became an eight-team tournament.

Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions played in the league for 2 seasons (2016,2017) as a replacement for the banned Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.

But IPL has only had teams from 11 cities in its history of 11 years, which has left a plethora of fans without a home team to cheer for. Here's a countdown of 10 such Indian cities who deserve a team of their own-


#10 Indore

Holkar Stadium, Indore
Holkar Stadium, Indore

Madhya Pradesh is known to have numerous IPL fans which can be seen whenever the state hosts a cricket match. The Holkar Stadium in Indore has a capacity of 30,000 seats and always witnesses a full-house whenever used as a home ground by the Kings XI Punjab.

Famous for producing high-scoring matches, a team from Indore is the perfect reward the BCCI can give to MP cricket fans. Another interesting fact about the historic stadium is that the Men in Blue have a 100% win percentage playing at Holkar Stadium.

A huge number of cricket fans pay a visit to the IPL fan parks in Bhopal and Ujjain which displays the craze the people of Madhya Pradesh have for the game. Indore is a strong contender to have its own IPL team whenever the IPL Governing Council increases the number of franchises.

#9 Kanpur

An IPL match at Kanpur
An IPL match at Kanpur

It’s quite shocking to discover that never ever in the history of the Indian Premier League has a team from Uttar Pradesh competed. Uttar Pradesh is one of the largest states of the country yet it has not a single IPL team.

Kanpur’s Green Park stadium has hosted home matches of Gujarat Lions in the past but the state has failed to grab the attention of the IPL GC in having its own franchise.

A city from Uttar Pradesh deserves its own IPL franchise as a representative of the entire state and Kanpur seems to be the front-runner in that race.

#8 Cuttack

Barbati Stadium, Cuttack
Barbati Stadium, Cuttack

Cuttack too has played the host to various IPL matches in the past. It was the adopted home of 3 IPL franchises namely Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders and the now-defunct Deccan Chargers.

Odisha has had no IPL team in the past despite hosting the matches several times. Cricket fans have always made their presence felt at the 45,000 capacity holder Barbati Stadium whether it is an international game or an IPL game.

Fans from Odisha would rejoice if they have their own IPL team as it would mark the first instance where they will be cheering for their own franchise.

#7 Dharamshala

The most beautiful stadium in the world
The most beautiful stadium in the world

Dharamshala is home to the most beautiful cricket stadium in the world. The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium boasts of a mountainous background.

Kings XI Punjab have used it as their adopted home. The stadium had also hosted the matches of ICC WT20 in 2016. An IPL team from Himachal Pradesh is a dream for the cricket fans of Dharamshala.

Given the stadium they possess, Dharamshala may have an IPL team sooner rather than later.

#6 Hubli

Hubli has it's own KPL franchise
Hubli has it's own KPL franchise

So far in the history of IPL, only one state (Maharashtra) has had two local franchises playing in the IPL at the same time. Karnataka can join this elite list if the IPL admits a team from the city of Hubli.

Hubli has always been one of the biggest cricketing hubs of the state with its own stadium. The stadium at Hubli has never hosted any international or IPL game but has always delivered exciting thrillers when hosting the Karnataka Premier League.

The IPL fan parks at Hubli have always witnessed many young cricket fans in the attendance. Even the KPL matches in the city attract a handsome number of cricket fans.

#5 Guwahati

Barsapara Stadium recently hosted its first ever international match
Barsapara Stadium recently hosted its first ever international match

Guwahati's Barsapara stadium witnessed a blue sea of cricket fans when the Indian team played its first ever international match against Australia at the venue.

The passion for cricket amongst the Assamese fans seems to be at the highest point at the moment and with the admission of north-eastern states at the domestic level. this may be the perfect team to have the first ever north-eastern IPL franchise.

The seven states of the north-east can have their one IPL team which can help in guiding their youngsters towards the sport of cricket.

#4 Raipur

Raipur has hosted IPL matches in the past
Raipur has hosted IPL matches in the past

With the rise of Chhattisgarh in the cricket field, a team from Raipur may help the sport grow to new heights in the state. The state can even generate a huge revenue given that the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium has a seating capacity of 65,000.

Back in 2013, when the stadium hosted IPL matches for Delhi Daredevils, the state Government waived off the entertainment taxes to ensure greater success.

The stadium also got a chance to host the CLT20 2014 qualifiers and for the first time in the history of the Champions League, the Qualifiers matches were sold out. Legends of the game like Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan have heaped praises for the facilities at the stadium.

#3 Patna

Patna have the most successful PKL franchise
Patna
have
the most successful PKL franchise

Bihar has not hosted a single international cricket match in the last few years due to unknown reasons but the craze for sports is beyond the limits in Patna.

Patna has a stadium named "Moin-ul-Haq International Stadium" which has a seating capacity of 25,000. The stadium had also hosted 3 international matches in the past.

If Bihar gets an IPL franchise, Patna should be the front-runner to host the IPL matches which would also help the city build its legacy in the sport.

#2 Ranchi

MS Dhoni's hometown
MS Dhoni's hometown

The city, famous for producing India's most successful captain in Mahendra Singh Dhoni, was one of the strong contenders to have its own IPL team in 2016 but Rajkot and Pune out-bid them.

The JSCA stadium in Ranchi has hosted many international matches in the recent past and had also hosted IPL and CLT20 matches.

It was the adopted home of MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings in the aforementioned tournaments. It is a dream for every cricket fan from Jharkhand to see Captain Cool leading a side from Ranchi in the IPL.

#1 Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad is set to have the world's largest cricket stadium
Ahmedabad is set to have the world's largest cricket stadium

The Motera Stadium at Ahmedabad is under re-construction and is set to be the largest cricket stadium on the planet with a potential seating capacity of 110,000, overtaking the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The cricket fans of Ahmedabad have never had their own IPL team as due to the stadium's reconstruction, Rajkot was chosen as the base of the Gujarat Lions franchise.

BCCI would love to maximize their revenue potential by having an IPL franchise from the city. Cricket fans of Ahmedabad are long overdue an IPL team having previously hosted games for the Rajasthan Royals.

Which city do you want to have its own IPL franchise? Share your views in the comments section below.

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Edited by Kumud Ranjan