Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid is a strong advocate for expanding the IPL. He argues that increasing the number of teams would help the league grow while leveraging the deep pool of talent available across India. Reports suggest the league might move from eight to nine teams in 2021, with a goal of reaching ten teams by 2023.
Manoj Badale, co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals, agrees with Dravid, stating that a nine-team setup for 2021 is feasible. Dravid believes the league is ready for this growth because there are countless gifted young cricketers who simply haven't had the opportunity to showcase their skills yet.
According to Dravid, increasing the number of franchises would create more slots for talented players, ensuring that the league's high competitive standard remains intact.
Dravid highlighted how the IPL serves as a global stage for players like Rahul Tewatia. Previously, a player's career depended almost entirely on their state association's Ranji Trophy selections. In a competitive state like Haryana, Tewatia would have struggled for game time given the presence of stars like Yuzvendra Chahal, Amit Mishra, and Jayant Yadav. Dravid believes the IPL has broken these regional barriers, offering players a high-pressure environment similar to international cricket regardless of their state standing.