# Canonical recap data for Indian Premier League Inaugural Season (2008)
# Source: https://recap.at/2008/ipl-inaugural-season
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: ipl-inaugural-season
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/2008/ipl-inaugural-season"
title: Indian Premier League Inaugural Season
aliases:
- IPL
- IPL 2008
- First IPL Season
subtitle: The IPL revolutionized cricket as a global franchise sport and became the world's richest league by media value, reshaping professional athletics in the developing world.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 2008-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 2008
decade: 2000
country:
name: India
slug: india
summaryShort: The prime minister of India is the head of government of the Republic of India. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen Council of Ministers, despite the president of India being the nominal head of the executive. The prime minister has to be a member of one of the houses of bicameral Parliam
summaryLong: The prime minister of India is the head of government of the Republic of India. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen Council of Ministers, despite the president of India being the nominal head of the executive. The prime minister has to be a member of one of the houses of bicameral Parliament of India, alongside heading the respective house. The prime minister and the cabinet are at all times responsible to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the parliament.
lede: India launched the Indian Premier League in 2008, a franchise-based Twenty20 cricket tournament that compressed the sport into high-octane three-hour matches. The eight teams competing across India's cities generated massive television audiences and corporate sponsorship, fundamentally changing how cricket was played and monetized globally.
heroImageUrl: "https://pixabay.com/get/g1ab6d55ffe68b4624d697c9a03171951228c3fc16808316931f79da34e3c6195cae9d61233e1ef867f7ee99cf833cb87ffe625228af41ace78f06d7783cfdf80_1280.jpg"
heroImageCredit: KelvinStuttard on Pixabay
importance: 72
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Launch Date
  value: April 18, 2008
- label: Number of Franchises
  value: 8 teams
- label: Tournament Duration
  value: 34 days (April 18 – May 26, 2008)
- label: Match Format
  value: Twenty20 (20 overs per side)
- label: Inaugural Winner
  value: Rajasthan Royals
- label: First Match Venue
  value: M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- label: Total Matches Played
  value: "59"
- label: IPL Founder
  value: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
timeline:
- date: 2007-11-20
  title: IPL Announced by BCCI
  description: The BCCI officially announced plans to launch the Indian Premier League, a new franchise-based Twenty20 tournament.
- date: 2008-02-20
  title: IPL Auction Held
  description: BCCI held the inaugural IPL player auction in Mumbai, where international and Indian cricketers were assigned to eight franchises.
- date: 2008-04-18
  title: IPL Season Begins
  description: The first IPL match took place at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
- date: 2008-05-16
  title: First IPL Final
  description: The IPL final was held, with Rajasthan Royals facing Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
- date: 2008-05-26
  title: Rajasthan Royals Crowned Champions
  description: Rajasthan Royals defeated Mumbai Indians by 3 runs to win the inaugural IPL title, with Shane Warne as captain.
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_India"
  title: Indian premier
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
impactStatement: The IPL didn't just create a new tournament-it rewired professional cricket's economics and audience expectations. By packaging the sport for television with marquee international players, franchise ownership, and aggressive marketing, it proved cricket could compete with soccer and American sports for global eyeballs and sponsorship dollars.
categories:
- sports
metaDescription: India's IPL inaugural season in 2008 launched a franchise cricket revolution that reshaped global sports economics.
wikidataQid: Q192711
taxonomy:
domain: sports
eventTypes:
- tournament
canonicalClasses:
- creation
- competition
- celebration
impactRadius: national
velocity: sudden
predictability: scheduled
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: single_domain
lifecycleClass: birth
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20080624235155/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_India"
  capturedAt: 2008-06-24
  label: Indian premier
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_India"
peoplesVoice:
- source: Lalit Modi, IPL Founder and Commissioner
  voiceType: official
  context: Speaking at the IPL's launch event in March 2008, Modi articulated the league's revolutionary vision for Indian cricket.
  excerpt: We are creating something that has never been done before in cricket. This is not just a league, it's a movement that will change how India watches and plays the sport.
  sentimentLabel: predictive
  significance: 88
  attribution: IPL Launch Press Conference, March 2008
  publishedAt: 2008-03-14
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Rajdeep Sardesai, Cricket Journalist and TV Anchor
  voiceType: media
  context: During IPL's inaugural match coverage in April 2008, Sardesai captured the cultural phenomenon unfolding across Indian television.
  excerpt: This is prime-time cricket at its finest. Twenty20 is short, sharp, explosive - and India's masses are watching in unprecedented numbers.
  sentimentLabel: celebratory
  significance: 75
  attribution: CNN-IBN Cricket Coverage, April 2008
  publishedAt: 2008-04-18
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Sourav Ganguly, Former Indian Cricket Captain and IPL Kolkata Knight Riders Owner
  voiceType: industry
  context: As both a stakeholder and cricket legend, Ganguly weighed in on the IPL's commercial potential during the league's first week.
  excerpt: Cricket in India has always been about Test matches and one-days. The IPL is bringing glamour, money, and a new audience to the game.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 72
  attribution: Times of India Interview, April 2008
  publishedAt: 2008-04-22
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Harsha Bhogle, Cricket Commentator and Analyst
  voiceType: expert
  context: Mid-tournament in May 2008, Bhogle assessed whether the IPL's bold experiment could sustain interest beyond novelty.
  excerpt: The IPL has succeeded because it understands Indian cricket fans want entertainment, not just traditional cricket. That's a watershed moment.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 68
  attribution: ESPNcricinfo Column, May 2008
  publishedAt: 2008-05-15
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Greg Chappell, Former Australian Cricketer and Commentator
  voiceType: skeptic
  context: With Western cricket establishment watching cautiously, Chappell expressed doubts about the league's credibility in June 2008.
  excerpt: It's entertainment, yes, but does it develop proper cricketers? Twenty20 is exciting but it's a long way from producing Test match quality.
  sentimentLabel: skeptical
  significance: 62
  attribution: ESPN Commentary, June 2008
  publishedAt: 2008-06-05
  originalLanguage: en
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/27/Women%27s_Premier_League.svg/330px-Women%27s_Premier_League.svg.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/27/Women%27s_Premier_League.svg/330px-Women%27s_Premier_League.svg.png"
  caption: Women's Premier League (cricket)
  credit: Wikipedia · "Women's Premier League (cricket)"
  width: 330
  height: 164
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/UNSC_Indian_PM_Modi_IFC-IOR.jpg/1280px-UNSC_Indian_PM_Modi_IFC-IOR.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/UNSC_Indian_PM_Modi_IFC-IOR.jpg/800px-UNSC_Indian_PM_Modi_IFC-IOR.jpg"
  caption: UNSC Indian PM Modi IFC-IOR
  credit: Ministry of External Affairs, India
  width: 1080
  height: 1072
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Lord_Mountbatten_swears_in_Jawaharlal_Nehru_as_the_first_Prime_Minister_of_free_India_on_Aug_15%2C_1947.jpg/1280px-Lord_Mountbatten_swears_in_Jawaharlal_Nehru_as_the_first_Prime_Minister_of_free_India_on_Aug_15%2C_1947.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Lord_Mountbatten_swears_in_Jawaharlal_Nehru_as_the_first_Prime_Minister_of_free_India_on_Aug_15%2C_1947.jpg/800px-Lord_Mountbatten_swears_in_Jawaharlal_Nehru_as_the_first_Prime_Minister_of_free_India_on_Aug_15%2C_1947.jpg"
  caption: Lord Mountbatten swears in Jawaharlal Nehru as the first Prime Minister of free India on Aug 15, 1947
  credit: photodivision.gov.in
  width: 667
  height: 406
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/ICT_Players_with_PMO_India.jpg/1280px-ICT_Players_with_PMO_India.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/ICT_Players_with_PMO_India.jpg/800px-ICT_Players_with_PMO_India.jpg"
  caption: ICT Players with PMO India
  credit: Prime Minister's Office
  width: 2200
  height: 1467
comparisonThenNow:
- metric: Number of IPL teams
  thenValue: "8"
  thenYear: 2008
  nowValue: "10"
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants added in 2022
- metric: Tournament duration (days)
  thenValue: "44"
  thenYear: 2008
  nowValue: "70"
  nowYear: 2024
  note: 2008 season ran March 18-April 30; modern seasons extend further
- metric: Total matches in season
  thenValue: "59"
  thenYear: 2008
  nowValue: "74"
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Increased with expansion franchises
- metric: Estimated franchise valuation range (USD millions)
  thenValue: 50-75
  thenYear: 2008
  nowValue: 900-1600
  nowYear: 2023
  note: Based on IPL 2022 auction valuations and recent reports
consequences:
- title: Twenty20 cricket becomes global priority
  year: 2009
  description: IPL's immediate success prompted other cricket boards to launch domestic T20 leagues. The Big Bash League began planning in Australia, while the Caribbean Premier League launched in 2013, fundamentally shifting how cricket boards invested in format development.
- title: Indian cricketers gain parallel revenue stream
  year: 2008
  description: Players could now earn substantial sums independent of central contracts. The IPL auction system created a market-driven salary structure that influenced international player valuations and negotiating power.
- title: Reliance Industries-backed infrastructure expansion
  year: 2010
  description: The league's financial success enabled upgrades to Indian cricket stadiums and facilities. Reliance's ownership of Mumbai Indians provided capital for stadium improvements and training infrastructure across multiple venues.
- title: BCCI revenue transformation
  year: 2010
  description: IPL broadcast rights and sponsorships became the BCCI's largest single revenue source. The 2010 IPL media rights auction fetched $918 million, establishing the template for future cricket monetization globally.
- title: Player injury management protocols evolve
  year: 2012
  description: Compressed scheduling across IPL and international fixtures forced cricket boards to develop rotation policies and injury prevention strategies. The Indian team began systematically resting players during IPL seasons.
culturalContext:
topMusic:
- title: Vande Mataram (IPL 2008 theme)
  artist: A.R. Rahman
  year: 2008
  note: Commissioned specifically for the IPL inaugural season
- title: Jai Ho
  artist: A.R. Rahman
  year: 2008
  note: From Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, culturally resonant during IPL's debut
- title: Pappu Can't Dance Saala
  artist: Jagjit Singh
  year: 2008
topFilms:
- title: Slumdog Millionaire
  year: 2008
  note: Released same year as IPL; global interest in India was concurrent
- title: 3 Idiots
  year: 2009
  note: Released shortly after IPL's debut; massive Bollywood success
topTVShows:
- title: Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi
  note: Still dominant on Indian television in 2008
- title: Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
  year: 2008
  note: Premiered July 2008, became massive hit during IPL era
zeitgeistNote: India in 2008 was experiencing a post-liberalization boom with rising consumer spending and technology adoption. Slumdog Millionaire's global success had increased international interest in Indian culture. The IPL represented India's confidence in exporting a premium sporting product globally, coinciding with the country's emergence as a major economic player during the pre-financial crisis optimism.
relatedQueries:
- IPL 2008 first match Rajasthan Royals Bangalore
- Lalit Modi IPL founder 2008
- IPL inaugural season auction players
- Rajasthan Royals 2008 champions Shane Warne
- IPL 2008 broadcast rights Star Sports
- Twenty20 cricket explosion 2008
- Indian Premier League format innovation
- IPL 2008 tickets attendance India
- franchise cricket leagues history IPL first
