Cricket is a global phenomenon with thrilling quality cricket leagues spread all over the world. Below, we've ranked the top 5 leagues in the world.
Top 5 Most Popular Cricket Leagues
It can be tricky to single out which of the best cricket leagues in the world are the most popular with fans and punters. Fear not – we are here to help! Our list below contains our hand-picked selection.
1: Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League (IPL) was formed in 2007 and is cricket's premier professional Twenty20 cricket league. Held in India every year between March and May, the IPL is the most-attended cricket league in the world, and one of the most highly attended events among all global sports leagues.
The major draw to IPL for the fans has always been the fact that players from all around the world play together, rather than just nation-v-nation. Ten franchise teams play each other twice, following a standard T20 format.
YEAR WINNER
2021 Chennai Super Kings
2020 Mumbai Indians
2019 Mumbai Indians
2018 Chennai Super Kings
2017 Mumbai Indians
2: Big Bash League
The Big Bash League is an Australian professional Twenty20 league, its format very much resembling that of the IPL. Also featuring 8 teams, the Big Bash League is the only Twenty20 league to rival the IPL in attendance. It is played over the Australian summer (December – February) and was formed in 2011.
To boost the popularity of the league, Cricket Australia introduced exciting new rules in 2020: Power Surge, Bash Boost, and X-Factor Player. The Big Bash was also the first league to introduce the light-up stumps that we’ve all come to love across many other different leagues!
YEAR WINNER
2021/22 Perth Scorchers
2020/21 Sydney Sixers
2019/20 Sydney Sixers
2018/19 Melbourne Renegades
2017/18 Adelaide Strikers
3: Abu Dhabi T10 League
First played in 2017, the Abu Dhabi T10 is a cricket league that follows the T10 format of 10-overs per side and match durations of only 90 minutes. The league is in a round-robin format, followed by eliminator rounds to decide the final match. In 2018, the Abu Dhabi T10 League received an official ICC sanction.
The league has attracted some big-name marquee players in its short duration, such as Dwayne Bravo, Shahid Afridi, and Chris Gayle.
* There were no matches played in 2020.*
YEAR WINNER
2021 Northern Warriors
2019 Maratha Arabians
2018 Northern Warriors
2017 Kerala Kings
4: Caribbean Premier League
Founded by Cricket West Indies in 2013, the Caribbean Premier League is the premier Twenty20 competition played in the Caribbean. There are 6 teams, with the league following a standard T20 format. Only 5 international players are allowed per side, together with a focus on promoting local young talent with a rule of 4 under-23 local players per team.
YEAR WINNER
2021 St Kitts & Nevis Patriots
2020 Trinbago Knight Riders
2019 Barbados Tridents
2018 Trinbago Knight Riders
2017 Trinbago Knight Riders
5: Pakistan Super League
Since 2016, six cities in Pakistan compete every February/March in a hotly contested Twenty20 league known as the Pakistan Super League. Just like the other major leagues, the Pakistan Super League is a double round-robin format, in which teams play each other twice ahead of the playoffs.
The competition follows the International Cricket Council (ICC) rules and regulations; however, the league introduced a DRS system that has since been emulated by the Council.
YEAR WINNER
2021 Multan Sultans
2020 Karachi Kings
2019 Quetta Gladiators
2018 Islamabad United
2017 Peshawar Zalmi
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