| Video Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

The quaint hilly town of Dharamshala is a hub of activity during the month of May. Located at the foothills of the Lesser Himalayas and home to opulent Tibetan culture, it is a favoured tourist destination through the year. But with the Indian Premier League (IPL) bandwagon stopping here for a couple of games each year, there is a sudden flush of visitors who are keen to add a day of watching cricket against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains to their itinerary.

This year, the HPCA Stadium will also play host to an IPL Playoff game for the first time in the tournament’s history as Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans look to seal a place in the final of the T20 showpiece. Ahead of the clash in his home turf, Arun Dhumal, the IPL chairman, sat down for a chat with  Sportstar to speak about the way ahead for the marquee T20 tournament, the obstacles it has faced this season and much more.

Q. The two months of the IPL is obviously hectic for you as chairman. Now there is an added responsibility of hosting an IPL Playoff game in your home state. How does it feel?

“[Hosting the Playoffs] gives HPCA a sense of pride because when we had envisaged this stadium, we were not sure how it would shape up. But whoever has played at the stadium has ranked it as the best in the world. Especially in this heat, it is a big relief for teams to come play here in Dharamshala. It has been a phenomenal season so far. I hope we will have a good playoff game as well.

Q. The IPL has grown into one of the most awaited cricket events in the world. This season too, the fight for the top four went down to the wire. How do you see the growth of this tournament over the last decade?

The quality of the games is the USP of the tournament. Till the last game, you don’t know who is going to qualify or win. That has been the hallmark of the competition all these years. We have also been innovating the game with technology and some new rules. The game has grown phenomenally.

Q. The current IPL Playoff format gives the top two teams an extra opportunity to make the final. It is a reward for their consistency. But, has the IPL ever discussed switching up the qualification process, especially after expanding to ten teams?

I think the teams work very hard over two-and-a-half months to get to the top of the table. If they have one bad day and exit the competition, then it doesn’t make sense. We have had suggestions coming in, especially considering that the teams playing the Eliminator don’t win the tournament often (only SRH in 2016). Some have also suggested playing a best of three final. When the league further matures from 74 to 94 games, if that is the best way forward for the game, then we will definitely look at that.

Q. The IPL has been looking to move to a full home and away format with teams playing equal numbers of games across both for some time now. When do you expect to be able to expand the tournament?

The format is home and away now, too. But as of now, there are only seven home and seven away games. Ideally, in a 10-team format, you should have nine home and nine away. Logistical challenges and the commitment given to bilateral matches are the reason we haven’t made it nine each. Going forward, in case a bigger window permits little more leeway to have two more weeks added, we will certainly look at increasing the number of games from 74 to 94 so that there is equal opportunity at home and away.

Q. Some team representatives have been asking for more franchise control over pitches to tailor it to their strengths, rather than centralised control that is being followed now. Is that something the IPL has considered?

I think teams playing at home already have an advantage. They will have better knowledge of the conditions because they practice there on a regular basis. Wickets and the outfield are the most integral part of a good-quality game. Despite making the best pitch that will suit you, there is no guarantee that you will win the game. We have to look at what the fans want and that is top quality games.

All teams are equally poised; they have got good competitive boys to sweat it out and give their 100 per cent on the field. The pitch doesn’t make much of a difference. Over the last couple of years, we have managed to reduce the advantage of dew by using the spray. It has helped the game be equal for both teams. The hallmark of IPL is the quality of games, the kind of competitiveness that you get to see.

Q. There have been some reports that there has been a drop in satellite television audience for the IPL this season. Is that something to be worried about?

I do not know where that report came from. According to the latest media report that came from the broadcaster, the audience has grown vis-a-vis the previous year in terms of total consumption. The regional channels have worked very well in improving our reach along every nook and corner of the country. The broadcaster is very happy with how the league has performed this year.

Q. With the IPL occupying two months of the calendar, is there some fatigue that you are able to diagnose among the audience? How feasible will it be to extend the duration further?

I do not think so. We need to sit across and speak to the broadcaster for their opinion on whether the tournament can be moved to another window. One suggestion was a window in September-October. That is the best time from an advertiser point of view because it is just before Diwali. We will look at that when the next bilateral tender comes into play, in case we can find a window there.

Weather is another challenge that we are facing now with May getting very hot. We are also looking if we can find a window from February to April and then later in the year. We have to do what is best for the game because IPL does not impact only the BCCI, it impacts all other cricket boards and players who play across the globe. We will sit across with all our friends from other countries and find what works best for this tournament and cricket globally.

Q. Considering that there is so much global influence on the IPL, the ongoing fuel crisis must have been a big setback to the smooth functioning of the tournament. How did you manage to wade through it with so much out of your control?

We have seen so many challenges over the last 18-19 years that we have become used to it. The COVID-19 pandemic was one occasion where nobody had an idea of what it was and when it would end. Despite that challenging situation, we were able to complete two successful editions.

Last season, too, we had to stop operations due to Operation Sindhoor. But as soon as the conflict was over, we were able to complete the tournament very successfully. So, these kinds of things keep happening and we are ready to take up those challenges and make sure that this tournament does not suffer. The fuel crisis in particular has not affected the day-to-day functioning so far. Though it has been a challenging situation, the government has been very responsive.

Published on May 26, 2026