The 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League emerged as a particularly dynamic and eventful season in the tournament’s history, distinguished not only by its on-field cricketing spectacles but also by a series of off-field developments. One of the standout narratives of IPL 2024 was the transfer saga involving Hardik Pandya. The transfer marked a notable instance where a title-winning captain has been traded between IPL franchises for the first time, establishing a new precedent within the League. Another headline-grabbing incident during IPL 2024 involved a public altercation between an IPL team-owner and a captain following a decisive defeat. The public dressing down of the captain by the owner, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, sparked strong reactions from fans and commentators.
These incidents provoke reflection on whether the intense pressures exerted by corporate owners striving for success in the IPL can sometimes undermine the team’s cohesion and performance. They raise pertinent questions about the expectations of players and the balance between ambition and the well-being of team dynamics.
The 2024 IPL marked the seventeenth season of the tournament. Across these 17 seasons, each featuring at least eight teams, just three teams have claimed 13 titles, constituting an impressive 76.5% of total victories. Particularly striking is the dominance of the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings that have clinched the title 58.8% of the time. This concentration of success among a select few teams highlights a competitive imbalance in the League, prompting questions about the factors contributing to their sustained dominance and whether the teams’ cultures played a role in their consistent performances. CSK, which has participated in 15 out of 17 IPL seasons, has won the championship five times and reached the finals 10 times (the most by any IPL team). It has a winning percentage of 58%. One defining characteristic of CSK is their stable management and leadership, which have been crucial to their outstanding performance. CSK is known for strategically retaining core players, fostering team chemistry, and relying on experienced campaigners. This approach has yielded consistent results and multiple IPL titles. Notably, CSK has had only two full-time captains to date: M.S. Dhoni (2008-2023) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (2024-present). While Ravindra Jadeja briefly took on the captaincy in 2022, CSK quickly reverted to Dhoni after a few matches, recognising that the change was not as effective as anticipated. As for coaches, Stephen Fleming, who played for CSK in 2008-2009, has served as the head coach of the team since 2009. Kepler Wessels was the only other person to coach CSK in the inaugural season of the IPL. MI has also adopted a similar approach although CSK distinguishes itself by adhering to the strategy of nurturing a sustained culture and long-term planning.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have the Punjab Kings, formerly known as Kings XI Punjab. Over 17 IPL seasons, they have advanced beyond the league stage only twice and hold a winning percentage of 45%. The team has experienced significant leadership changes, being captained by 11 different players (those who have captained the team for 10 or more matches) since its inception. Additionally, they have had 10 different head coaches to date, reflecting a lack of stability compared to the more successful franchises. Another notable comparison is that 150 players have played for PBKS to date, whereas only 102 players have donned the jersey of CSK. This discrepancy highlights PBKS’s lack of a long-term strategy and frequent overhauling of their squad in search of a winning combination.
Most of the other teams lie somewhere in the middle, as the tournament has seen a staggering 61 captains in total. The data suggest a strong negative correlation (correlation coefficient -0.785) between the number of captains and the winning percentage of a team, indicating that stability and a long-term focus yield better results compared to frequent changes aimed at meeting short-term expectations.
The Big Bash League, Australia’s premier domestic Twenty20 cricket competition, highlights a similar trend. Among its eight teams, the Perth Scorchers have secured five titles, while the Sydney Sixers have won three, combining for eight out of 13 tournament seasons and achieving a commanding winning percentage of 61%. Stability seems to be the key factor differentiating these two teams from the rest. Moises Henriques has remained the captain of the Sydney Sixers since 2013, providing steady leadership over the years. For the Perth Scorchers, Adam Voges captained the team from 2014 to 2018, winning two BBL titles during his tenure. After stepping down as captain, Voges continued to contribute as the coach. Ashton Turner, Voges’s successor as captain, has since led the team to two more titles. This approach underscores the importance of stable leadership and coaching in achieving consistent success. However, the other franchisees in the BBL have not been very inconsistent when it comes to the choice of leadership and coaching staff. This can probably be attributed to their existence in a market space that has a better understanding of how to handle team leadership and coaching staff.
Franchisee sport is a very nascent phenomenon in India. Like any emerging franchise market, the Indian market will require time to mature. As the market matures, so does the understanding of its dynamics among the players. Unlike the management of national teams, where team loyalty is often an intrinsic motivation for players, the motivational factors in franchise sports differ. While athletes may naturally be inclined to be loyal to their team due to the competitive nature of sports and the desire to win, franchise sports also provide them with the flexibility to switch teams if they feel undervalued. This flexibility can create distrust among team owners. Instances of players seeking to move to other franchises can exacerbate this distrust.
It is thus crucial for the corporate owners of IPL teams to understand that frequent changes in leadership and strategy can lead to inconsistent on-field performances. Players may struggle to adapt to new tactics, game plans, and leadership styles, resulting in a lack of coherence and predictability in their gameplay. Stability in the leadership of the team, consisting of the captain and the coach, helps build a strong team chemistry and trust among players. A revolving door of captains and coaches can disrupt the development of these critical interpersonal relationships, making it difficult for the team to function as a cohesive unit. Data show that successful franchises often have long-term plans that guide their decision-making process. It takes time, patience, a lot of understanding and, of course, a prolonged experience of handling a franchise to iron out the flaws. Like any other market, the IPL will need to evolve and adapt to reach its full potential.
Jimut Bahan Chakrabarty is Assistant Professor, Operations Management and Decision Sciences, Indian Institute of Management Kashipur. Prashant Premkumar is Assistant Professor, Decision Sciences, Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam
