Special Edition: 13 Years of Indian Premier League
Indian Premier League is undeniably the best cricketing league in the world. Many talented cricketers were introduced to the international arena with the help of IPL. The introduction of IPL has not only changed the face of Indian Cricket but also International Cricket as well. Today, this top league celebrates its 13th anniversary. IPL started off with 8 teams and the organizers added Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiants. However, the two teams are not a part of the tournament anymore.
The first match of IPL was held on April 18th, 2008 between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders. The opening match itself was a highlight, all thanks to the blazing innings of Brendon McCullum. The dashing New Zealand opener scored unbeaten 158 runs and helped KKR score a massive total of 222 runs. On the flip side, RCB went all-out for just 82 runs. The first match became a blockbuster hit and brought a wide fan base to IPL. After that, the viewership only increased every year.