The BCCI is reportedly exploring a 12-team IPL from the 2028 season, with Pune and Vadodara said to be the leading cities for two new franchises. This comes from a Mint report, and as of 10 November 2026 the board has not announced any decision. The number of teams, the host cities and the bidding timeline are all still open.
Many outlets have carried the story, but they all trace back to that one Mint report citing unnamed people. Treat it as an early-stage plan, not an official expansion.
What the IPL expansion report says
According to Mint, the BCCI has begun preliminary talks with private equity teams from the 2028 media rights cycle, with Vadodara and Pune among the cities in the fray. The report says the expansion is likely to line up with the next IPL media rights cycle, which will run from 2028 to 2032, and that each new franchise could be valued at more than $1 billion.
Interest is said to be wide. Potential investors named include European private equity firm Permira, West Asian sovereign wealth funds, Asian state-backed investment entities and major Indian business conglomerates. Some are reportedly looking at minority stakes rather than outright ownership.
The league currently has 10 teams. It last expanded in 2022, when Lucknow and Ahmedabad were added.
How new IPL franchises are selected
There is no official process for 2028 yet. The only precedent is 2022, when the BCCI used a tender. The IPL Governing Council invited bids to own and operate the two new teams through a tender process, and one bidder could bid for only one of the two teams.
The base price then was reportedly ₹2,000 crore. In a closed bidding auction in October 2021, RPSG Ventures won Lucknow for ₹7,090 crore and CVC Capital Partners’ Irelia Company won Ahmedabad for ₹5,625 crore. Even after the bids, the winners still had to complete formalities. CVC’s clearance was delayed after questions about its business interests in betting firms.
If the BCCI repeats this model, expect a tender document, a base price, sealed bids and background checks. That is an inference from 2022, not something the board has announced for 2028.
What Pune and Vadodara’s chances depend on
Pune has prior experience. It hosted Pune Warriors India (2011-2013) and Rising Pune Supergiant (2016-2017). Warriors, owned by Sahara, left after a dispute with the BCCI over franchise fees. Supergiant played as a stand-in while Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended.
Vadodara has a different pitch. It is around 110 km from Ahmedabad, home of Gujarat Titans, and reports link its case to Gujarat’s push to become a sports hub, including Ahmedabad eyeing the 2036 Olympics.
Whether either city gets a team depends on several things, according to the reports:
- Commercial viability, including for existing franchises.
- Whether leading Indian players are available, since adding two teams would stretch the talent pool.
- Broadcaster appetite, as two more teams would increase the overall schedule and media rights costs.
- Who actually bids, because in 2022 the investor’s chosen city mattered as much as the board’s shortlist.
On that last point, in 2022 the BCCI shortlisted six cities, and Lucknow and Ahmedabad won out.
What is still unconfirmed
As of 10 November 2026, the BCCI is yet to finalise the number of teams, potential host cities or the timeline for inviting bids. No final decision has been taken on the proposed expansion, per Mint‘s sources. I could not find any BCCI or IPL statement on it. I could not open the original Mint article either, and relied on its published summary and other outlets’ accounts of it.
Also unclear is the match count. Some outlets mention a possible 94-match season, but BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia reportedly said earlier this year that there are no plans to expand from 74 to 94 league games anytime soon because of a packed international calendar. Any 12-team format, such as two groups, is speculation for now.
Key details
| Item | Status as of 10 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|
| Current teams | 10 |
| Proposed teams | 12 from 2028 (reported, not official) |
| Cities in the running | Pune, Vadodara (reported, could change) |
| Reported valuation | Over $1 billion per team |
| Linked to | 2028-2032 media rights cycle |
| Selection process | Not announced; 2022 used a tender |
| BCCI confirmation | None found |
FAQ
Is the IPL officially going to have 12 teams in 2028?
No. It is a media report of early talks. The BCCI has not announced a decision.
Which cities are likely to get the new IPL teams?
Pune and Vadodara are named as frontrunners, but reports say the final choice of cities is not confirmed and could change.
How much would a new IPL franchise cost?
No price has been set. Reports say each team could be valued at over $1 billion. For comparison, the 2022 winning bids were ₹7,090 crore and ₹5,625 crore.
Will the number of IPL matches increase?
Not confirmed. The season has 74 matches, and the BCCI secretary has said a move to 94 is not planned anytime soon.
For official announcements, watch the IPL website and the BCCI website. The Mint newsletter summary of the original report is also available.
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