2025 April is possibly the hottest month of the year! But it’s not because the temperature reaches 35 degrees in the Indian subcontinent. It’s so hot here because the 18th season is finally here, and the entire country is excited. The fans are looking forward to the high-voltage performance, power-packed boundaries, and some lovely forgettable moments as the Indian Cricket League reaches its 18th season. Congratulations on the coming of age!
However, this time, the feeling of nostalgia is almost about to take over the thrill. The Indian League has come a long way. The summer of 2008 was full of anticipation as Indian cricket lovers were eagerly waiting to experience this new format of cricket. The billion-dollar auctions, cheerleaders, and celebrity owners were more in discussions than anything. But, on the first day of the league, players’ performances and the cheers from the stadium proved that the Indian Cricket League is more than that. And, after 18 or so years of consistent support from fans, there are loads to unpack!
What do you think was the best part of these games?
On the first day of the Indian League, Kolkata and Bengaluru challenged each other. In that game, B. McCullum scored a whooping 158*, giving birth to the spine-chilling Indian League!
When the Indian League started in 2008. It was just another cricket league. However, the high-level performances and the fans’ excitement soon made it clear that this wasn’t just another game, but an emotion—a celebration of Indians’ passion for cricket.
This game offered the audience a chance to witness many nail-biting moments. Besides this, the Indian Cricket League also took up the responsibility of nurturing young talents. While sharing the same dressing room with experienced cricketers like Tendulkar, Dhoni, and Warne, the rising cricket players learned new things and improved their game. So, now, when you cheer for the indomitable Indian National team, remember that its success, to some extent, is rooted in the Indian Cricket League.
From the Baby to an Adult: how the Indian League grew
Indian League has a long history, and it isn’t all glitters but tainted with controversies like team suspensions. Though there were ups and downs, the number of viewers increased. So, the stadiums booming with the loud cheers for the teams lead the Indian Cricket League to grow bigger.
Some milestone moments are etched in the hearts of the Indian cricket fans, such as –
1000 Runs By A Batter in a Season: The audience has yet to experience the moment when the batter will touch the four-digit score in a single season. However, the nearest score is 973, which belongs to V. Kohli of the Bangalore team.
Four Centuries By A Batter In A Single Season: Though it sounds almost impossible, this record exists. V. Kohli (2016) and J. Butter (2022) share this record of scoring four centuries in a single season.
High Auction Amount: If you check the 2013 auction price of the players and think that it’s a lot, then you must check the auction prices of 2024 and 2025. They are shooting through the roof now! The highest-priced player in the Indian League history is R. Pant, who received 27 crore for the 18th season.
New Teams To Spice Things Up: Adding new teams after 2009 made the league more exciting for fans. For example, in 2011, Hyderabad joined the game. After this, two more teams, Gujarat and Lucknow, were added to the lineup.
Some Important Moments from the Indian League to Recap
Since this article is meant to explore the nostalgia lying in this journey of 18 years, here are some noteworthy moments from the Indian Cricket League –
List of the top 5 individual scores:
While the 20 over gaming format doesn’t give ample chance to the batters to easily make high scores, you will be stunned to know the top five scores made by the players:
C. Gayle: If you are a die-hard cricket fan, you probably remember the Gayle storms that would create terror in opponents. So, Gayle scoring the highest score of 175* runs (2013) isn’t much of a surprise for the fans.
B. McCullum: The second top scorer of the Indian cricket league isn’t far behind with a score of 158* (2008), which he scored on the first day of the Indian league. Now, that’s a fun fact. What say?
Q. de Kock: The Lucknow fans cheered their loudest cry when Kock scored 140* in 2022 against Kolkata.
AB de Villiers: The remarkable score of 133 runs in Wankhede helped Bangalore win the game
KL Rahul: Not just Punjab, but from Punjab to Kanyakumari, the cricket lovers were amazed by his score of 132 against Bangalore.
The Last Ball Six:
It was a match between Punjab and Pune. Dhoni played for Pune then. Pune required twelve runs in the last two balls. The fans were more or less sure that Punjab would defeat Pune. But that never happened! Dhoni’s back-to-back two sixes saved the day for Pune (2016 series). After all, he is called the master finisher.
The Double Super Over (2020):
As if a single Super Over wasn’t enough, they added two in one game, adding peak drama to this game.
Gujarat Winning Their Debut Season (2022):
Who saw that coming? The newborn Gujarat team proved they had come to rule and took home the trophy in their first season. What a fairytale start!
The 18th season—a mix of nostalgia and freshness:
After 18 years, what’s different about the Indian league of 2025? The game hasn’t just taken the shape of a widely-anticipated league, but the audience could also witness players retire, franchises evolve, and new cricket heroes emerge.
To many MSD fans, this year is heart-wrenching! Does seeing him in a yellow jersey this year feel like a final farewell tour? You are not alone. Many fans share this similar feeling.
But not just Dhoni. Other cricketers like Kohli, Sharma, and Warner, who shone brightly during the golden era of the Indian League, are now in the twilight of their careers. So, fans are all set to witness the best till that lasts.
However, the league continues to surprise cricket fans with some exciting updates in 2025:
The biggest auction ever: In the last few years, the auction price of the cricketers participating in the Indian cricket league has shot up. But, this year, the Indian league auction has reached a new level. The Lucknow team secured R. Pant to their player list with ₹27 crore.
The youngest player in history: The Indian cricket league has always been a grand opportunity for talented young players to showcase their skills. Therefore, several players of the age group 16- 18 years bagged the chance to captivate the audience with their performance and, at the same time, learn from the industry’s best. However, this time, cricket enthusiasts were shocked to find that 13-year-old V. Suryavanshi, who has signed with Rajasthan for 1.1 Crore, is joining the game as the youngest player.
Change in rules: From this season, the ‘Impact Player’ rule will bring an exciting change in this cricket format. This rule will make the game even more unpredictable and thrilling. Another significant change came this year. Due to COVID-19, a ban on using saliva on the ball was a precautionary measure. However, for the 18th season of the game, there is good news for cricket fans. The board has lifted the ban. Yippee! So, now, you can see some stunning swing throws tricking the batters.
Improved viewers’ experience: The hosting platforms have also leveled up their game to provide the audience with a superior experience. From multi-angle cams and VR experiences to real-time stats, they are all set to offer a classic viewing experience.
Future of Indian League:
With every passing year, the Indian Cricket League is getting bigger. So, the fans are wondering what to expect in the upcoming seasons. Let’s take a look at the things that might change in the future:
There might be more teams: The Indian League will grow more, adding more teams to offer the fans more nail-biting moments.
More youngsters: The tendency to sign new and talented players is increasing. Thus, in the future, cricket fans will see more young players joining teams and learning from the senior players.
Tech-powered games: With AI, data analytics, VR training, and more advanced technologies, the future Indian league will spin the world like never before!
Conclusion
The 18th season of Indian cricket kicked off on March 21st at Eden Gardens, where Kolkata faced Bengaluru. With the thrilling onset of the Indian Cricket League, it’s time to sit tight in front of the screen, cheer for your favorite team, and celebrate the endless charm of cricket. Though the Indian cricket league has reached adulthood, the love of the fans worldwide remains as young as ever.
