When you are an entity as massive as the Indian Premier League, can you realistically expect a new season – the 18th in this case – to be bigger and better than before?
By various reports, the IPL is valued at over $10 billion and has a clear calendar of two months ever year where all the top available players in the world compete for the top prize and validation of their value to other branches of the T20 universe. Is it even possible to add more to a recipe already brimming with glamour, big money, star power and dedicated audience in the high millions?
This could be that year though. A change that began last year will likely take root this season as India’s top players enter the tournament as double white-ball champions. That is a significant factor that sets this season apart.
India’s golden generation finally ended its decade-long trophy hunt in June last year, handing mega stars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and others just rewards for their magnificent contribution to T20 and cricket in general. Kohli already had won the 2011 ODI World Cup but the team needed this one badly.
India played like champions, bulldozing their way to 22 wins from 26 T20 matches last year. The T20 world title was only confirmation of their genius.
That winning mentality could not be carried over to the Test format, though, where they were embarrassed at home by New Zealand and then defeated soundly in Australia.
Many players part of the T20 World Cup squad suddenly found their careers at a cross roads. It was another make or break moment for Indian cricket when the Champions Trophy rolled around last month.
It was clear that failure to win the tournament would lead to changes in the team, be it players or support staff. Under such circumstances, India once again pulled off an unbeaten campaign to win the Champions Trophy – a 50-over tournament.
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India players celebrate after beating New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy final at Dubai International Stadium on March 9, 2025. Getty Images -
India captain Rohit Sharma with the trophy after defeating New Zealand. AP -
India's Virat Kohli celebrate with the trophy on the podium after defeating New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium. AP -
KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja celebrate after India defeated New Zealand by four wickets. Getty Images -
India captain Rohit Sharma hit 76 off 83 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. AFP -
New Zealand fielder Kyle Jamieson drops India's Shreyas Iyer on 44. Iyer would only contribute another four runs to his team's total, though. AP -
India's KL Rahul hit an unbeaten 34 off 33 balls including one four and one six. AFP -
New Zealand's Michael Bracewell, left, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of India batter Virat Kohli via lbw for just one. Bracewell finished with figures of 2-28 off his 10 overs. AFP -
New Zealand fielder Glenn Phillips after his wonder catch to dismiss India's Shubman Gill. AP -
India opener Shubman Gill hit 31 off 50 balls including one six in an opening partnership of 105 with Rohit Sharma. AFP -
India fan during the Champions Trophy final in Dubai. AFP -
Daryl Mitchell top scored for New Zealand with 63 off 101 balls, including three fours as his team reached 251-7 in their 50 overs. Reuters -
India wicketkeeper KL Rahul runs-out New Zealand captain Mitchel Santner for eight. AP -
India spinner Varun Chakravarthy, centre, celebrates with teammates after trapping New Zealand's Glenn Phillips lbw for 34. Chakravarthy finished with figures of 2-45 off his 10 overs. AFP -
New Zealand's Michael Bracewell hit an unbeaten 53 off 40 ball including three fours and two sixes. AFP -
New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips is bowled by India's Varun Chakravarthy for 34. AFP -
India's Ravindra Jadeja celebrates after trapping New Zealand batter Tom Latham lbw for 14. AP -
New Zealand opener Rachin Ravindra is bowled by India's Kuldeep Yadav bringing to an end his quickfire 37 off 29 balls that included four fours and a six. AP -
India fans at the Dubai International Stadium watching their team coast to victory. AFP -
India's Kuldeep Yadav, front, celebrates with teammate Virat Kohli after the dismissal of key New Zealand batter Kane Williamson for 11. Yadav finished with figures of 2-40 off his 10 overs. AP -
New Zealand opener Will Young takes a ball to the face during his knock of 15. Getty Images
Thus, the nucleus of India cricket lifted two major ICC trophies inside 12 months, laying the foundation of what could be an era of complete domination in white-ball cricket. And it could well start with IPL 2025.
There was a time when the IPL was blamed for funneling the energies of Indian players into a glorified domestic tournament, and leaving very little for the crunch moments in big tournaments. By that metric, the IPL should now be credited for laying the foundation of the national team’s victorious run.
Since India’s star players have set the benchmark for the world to follow, that can bring in a new level of aggression in their game. When a large pool of core players contributes handsomely to two successive major titles, it permeates quickly around teams they are a part of. Those in and around the senior team understand that the Indian side has cracked the code of excellence in white-ball matches.
So when Shubman Gill bats in the IPL, Arshdeep Singh bowls with the new ball, Axar Patel takes the field, or Shreyas Iyer leads the way, their actions will have the weight of champions behind them.
There are other elements in play, too. This IPL will see competition intensify across the board as every player will be counting down the days to the 2026 T20 World Cup, which takes place in India.
Since the shelf life in the format is so short, a good IPL can almost guarantee a spot in the T20 World Cup preliminary squad, while a bad one can push you back quickly, especially because seniority and experience won’t be as highly valued. Possibly in the Indian team as well, now that greats such as Rohit and Kohli have retired from T20s.
The par score has already gone beyond 200 in T20s and the score of 300 is almost certain to be crossed this IPL season. The value of power hitting all the way down to number eight is going to get amplified, while frontline wicket takers in the format will be worth more than ever. Even India's T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav needs a good IPL to secure his position at the national level, such is the level of competition.
On paper, there is nothing stopping India’s champions from playing with complete freedom in any white-ball match moving forward. And the IPL will only benefit from the new-found aura around their local contingent.
