Big Bash League could expand to 10 teams under IPL-style model amid Indian interest in privatisation plan

Big Bash League could expand to 10 teams under IPL-style model amid Indian interest in privatisation plan originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The Big Bash League could expand to 10 teams under a new ownership model.

Cricket Australia is exploring a hybrid privatisation plan for the tournament.

IPL franchise owners are among those showing strong interest in investing.

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Big Bash League could expand to 10 teams under IPL-style model

Australia's Big Bash League appears set for a significant transformation, with a report from the Guardian suggesting the tournament could expand to 10 teams in the coming seasons. The move forms part of Cricket Australia's wider push to open the competition up to private investment.

The BBL has long been an outlier among the world's major T20 leagues, with Cricket Australia and the state associations retaining ownership control rather than selling franchises. That model is now under review as the board looks to keep pace in an increasingly crowded and lucrative global market.

Central to the plan is a hybrid ownership structure, under which new teams could be collectively owned by private investors and the state cricket boards. It mirrors the approach taken by The Hundred in England, where several IPL franchises invested heavily.

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Unlike the earlier model, which was about selling the teams as private clubs, the new model suggests involvement by both the six states and the foreign investment groups.

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Why the Big Bash League is exploring a 10-team expansion

The expansion and privatisation drive is being fuelled by the need to strengthen the BBL financially and enhance its ability to attract the world's leading players. A privatised league could unlock significantly greater resources to recruit international stars and lift the overall standard.

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An independent report from Boston Consulting Group recommended that Cricket Australia sell minority stakes in the existing eight BBL clubs. The states have been given detailed proposals to study, including projected revenue from future sales and how the money would be distributed.

The ECB raised nearly $1 billion by selling the stakes in the Hundred earlier, and Cricket Australia might be eyeing that same prize. They have already appointed UK-based Raine Group to help with the sale, and the initial valuation has already exceeded $200 million. The plan is not without complications, however.

The Australian Cricketers Association has a payment agreement with Cricket Australia running until 2028, which may need to be renegotiated if private owners come on board, while not every state association is guaranteed to agree to sell a stake.

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Indian interest at the heart of the privatisation plan

Much of the momentum stems from strong interest among Indian investors, particularly IPL franchise owners who have aggressively expanded their global footprint. These owners already operate teams across leagues in England, South Africa, the USA, the West Indies and the UAE.

The appeal is mutual, with Indian owners bringing expertise in branding, marketing and talent development that could elevate the BBL's global profile. American investors linked to Major League Cricket franchises, including those behind the Washington Freedom and Seattle Orcas, are also monitoring the situation closely.

The India-facing strategy is already visible on the field, with the 2026-27 BBL season opener between the Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers scheduled to be played in Chennai on December 12, a historic first for the competition.

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Why privatisation carries both promise and peril for the BBL

There is a clear commercial logic to Cricket Australia's thinking, and the BBL genuinely needs reinvigorating after years of waning appeal. Private capital, particularly from IPL owners with a proven blueprint, could restore the star power and financial muscle the league has lacked, making it competitive with rivals like the SA20 and ILT20.

The risk lies in what Australian cricket might surrender in the process. Handing significant influence to IPL franchise owners raises legitimate questions about who ultimately controls the country's flagship domestic tournament and whether its distinct Australian identity survives the shift.

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The wholesale model that the board had suggested was rejected for this very reason, where the autonomy of Australian cricket could be jeopardised for commercial gain. Despite apparent support from Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia, the earlier plan was rejected by Queensland and New South Wales, with Southern Australia pushing for the hybrid model.

Expansion and investment may well secure the BBL's future, but Cricket Australia must tread carefully to ensure commercial revival does not come at the cost of the league's soul. With approval of four out of the six states required to move on with the plans, the situation can go either way for now.

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