when and where was the first IPL match held?
where was the first IPL match held?The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a fun cricket tournament that started in India in 2008. It has teams owned by big companies who play exciting matches. Let’s learn about the very first IPL game ever played and what made it special!
How Did the Idea of IPL Take Shape?
The inception of the Indian Premier League came about in 2007 when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced its intentions to start a Twenty20 tournament. IPL was modeled after franchise-based sports leagues like NBA in America. The aim was to make cricket in India more exciting, fast-paced and appealing to younger audiences.
BCCI President Sharad Pawar conceptualized the league. Vice-President Lalit Modi is credited as the founder of the IPL, who drafted the plans, devised format, sold franchises and broadcast rights – all within a matter of months. They wanted to retain cricket’s popularity amidst the rise of other sports in India.
Which Teams Featured in the First IPL Season?
The first IPL season in 2008 featured 8 teams. Franchises were auctioned and bought by corporate houses and film stars. The teams were:
– Royal Challengers Bangalore
– Mumbai Indians
– Chennai Super Kings
– Kolkata Knight Riders
– Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals)
– Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings)
– Rajasthan Royals
– Deccan Chargers (now defunct)
This was also the first time cricketers were bought and sold in an auction pool – a novel concept then.Top draws like MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar were signed for $1.5 million each – the highest bid. In total, over 80 players were picked by the 8 franchises from the auction pool.
The First IPL Match
- The opening match of the first IPL season was played on April 18, 2008.
- It was between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
- The match was held at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
- RCB was led by famous Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid.
- KKR was captained by former India player Sourav Ganguly.
RCB Team
Some star players in the RCB team were:
- Rahul Dravid (captain)
- Jacques Kallis – a great South African all-rounder
- Mark Boucher – wicketkeeper from South Africa
- Virat Kohli – future captain of Indian team
- Zaheer Khan – top Indian fast bowler
KKR Team
The KKR team also had many big names like:
- Sourav Ganguly (captain)
- Brendon McCullum – hard-hitting batsman from New Zealand
- Ricky Ponting – Australian batting star
- Ajit Agarkar – Indian fast bowler
- Ishant Sharma – young Indian pace bowler
The Match
- Ganguly won the toss and decided KKR would bat first.
- McCullum batted aggressively and scored a superb 158 runs off just 73 balls!
- His innings had 13 sixes and 10 fours. He made the first IPL century.
- KKR finished with a big total of 222 runs in 20 overs.
- In reply, RCB was bowled out for only 82 runs in 16 overs.
- KKR won the first ever IPL match by 140 runs.
- McCullum was named Man of the Match for his brilliant batting.
When and Where Was the First IPL Match Played?
The first ever IPL match was played on 18 April 2008 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. It was between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
RCB won the historic match by 140 runs. Brendon McCullum of KKR scored the first ever IPL century. He smashed 158 runs from just 73 balls, introducing the world to the exhilarating mayhem of IPL batting!
How Did IPL Perform in the Initial Years?
Despite concerns over the novel league format, the first IPL season was a massive success. Sold-out stadiums, TRP ratings, sponsorships and fan frenzy – IPL took off swiftly. The final match had over 50% more viewers than the ICC World Cup final of 2007.
Rajasthan Royals emerged victorious in the first season under captain Shane Warne. Unknown players like Ravindra Jadeja and Swapnil Asnodkar became household names.
By 2011, IPL team valuations had crossed $300 million. From $900 million in 2008, its brand value doubled to $4 billion by 2013. Top cricketers ranked IPL as their career priority. It restored cricket’s primacy against the rising popularity of other sports in India.
