Have you ever wondered, which is the best league in the world of T20 cricket? Is it the IPL, the Big Bash League, or anything else? Get ready to know that!
As the 2024 Twenty-Twenty cricket season approaches, we at Parimatch are committed to keeping our users informed about the best leagues to engage with. Here, we’ll discuss the top 10 tournaments that have been elating fans around the globe. Read on and join the excitement.
Table of Contents
What is T20 Cricket, and Why Are These Leagues So Popular?
T20 cricket, also known as Twenty20, is a modern iteration of the white ball cricket where each team gets to bat for a maximum of twenty overs. It is a dynamic and fast-paced format of cricket that solely came into existence because of entertainment. However, with everything this quick format has to offer, T20s have gained immense popularity worldwide.
But what makes T20 cricket thrilling? The answers can be many. Firstly, being quick in nature, the format not only demands less time but also keeps fans on the edge of their seats for the eternity of the match.
Secondly, T20 cricket brings forward the perfect blend of Muscle Power and creative Bowling Skills.
Lastly and most importantly, the rise of global leagues like the Indian Premier League IPL, BBL and more, where fans get to witness international stars and young talents and enjoy close contests, last-ball finishes, and nail-biting moments, make T20 cricket a blockbuster.
Which is the Best T20 League in World: List of Top 10
Over the years, the popularity of the T20 cricket format has risen quite steeply, and the reason, you already know. Due to this, different regions around the globe started introducing different leagues based on the same format and objective of catering to both local and global fans.
If we do a rough estimate, there have been nearly 90 leagues in the past 20 years. However, not all were able to sustain or reach the level of fame as expected. But at the same time, many even exceeded it.
In the upcoming section, you’ll get to know about the best ones. We’ll share with you the top 10 T20 leagues in the cricket world. Although ranking them isn’t a fair game because of how different elements act, we’ve considered vital factors like revenue, viewership, prize money, and popularity to ensure our list is closest to being fair.
Indian Premier League
- Next Edition: 22nd March 2024
- Most Successful Team: Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians
- Winner Prize Money: 20 Crores
The Indian Premier League, aka the IPL or the Tata IPL, is the biggest T20 domestic/franchise cricket league among all active tournaments. It is also the most popular cricket league both in India and across the world. As per data released in 2014, IPL, among all sports leagues, stands at 6th position by average attendance.
Founded back in 2007, IPL has been contested 16 times up until 2023 and is ready to welcome its 17th edition on 22nd March 2024. Ten city-based franchise teams take part in this league and aim to clinch the prestigious trophy. Besides that, the winning team also gets rewarded with a whopping amount of ₹20 Crore.
Big Bash League
- Next Edition: 2024-2025
- Most Successful Team: Perth Scorchers
- Winner Prize Money: 4.14 Crores
KFC Big Bash League is a professional T20 league played between 8 Australia-based franchise teams. Founded in 2011 by Cricket Australia, this league has climbed the staircase of popularity, all thanks to what it has to offer. Be it closely contested matches or a high octane environment, the magnitude of BBL is immense and can please any cricket fan right away.
T20 Blast
- Next Edition: 2024
- Most Successful Team: Leicestershire Foxes, Hampshire Hawks
- Winner Prize Money: 1.85 Crores
Vitality T20 Blast, which came into existence in 2003 through the efforts of the England and Wales Cricket Board, is one of the three professional cricket leagues that have preached the popularity of T20 cricket among fans. The tournament features 18 English and Welsh first class counties contesting for the trophy and a prize money of 1.85 Crores.
Pakistan Super League PSL
- Next Edition: 2025
- Most Successful Team: Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars
- Winner Prize Money: 3.40 Crores
Following the success of the Indian Premier League, the Pakistan Cricket Board founded PSL back in 2015. The tournament sticks to the similar Double round-robin and playoff format, just with a lesser number of teams (6). After the first edition in 2016, the league was widely accepted and became an instant hit. In 2023, PSL successfully completed eight editions, and the ninth one is currently underway (17 February – 18 March 2024).
Caribbean Premier League
- Next Edition: 28 August – 6 October 2024
- Most Successful Team: Trinbago Knight Riders
- Winner Prize Money: 8.24 Crores
West Indian cricket and T20 are synonymous with each other. Even before the shorter format of cricket was a thing, Caribbean players were known to have their own set of fast-paced playing styles that would entertain fans from any corner of the world. This is probably the reason the CPL was welcomed with open arms. Since 2013, there have been 11 breathtaking editions, and the next one is scheduled for August 2024.
Did You Know? IPL’s KKR and CPL’s Trinbago Knight Riders have the same parent company (Red Chillies, owned by Shah Rukh Khan). Players like Andre Russell and Sunil Narine play for both teams.
Bangladesh Premier League
- Next Edition: 2025
- Most Successful Team: Comilla Victorians
- Winner Prize Money: 1.5 Crores
Bangladesh Premier League is another popular league of the Asian sub continent. Played between 7 franchise teams, BPL was founded in 2011 and soon became one of the 16th most attended premier leagues in the world. The format of the league is pretty straight forward. Teams play each other twice before qualifying for the playoffs and, eventually, the grand finale.
Season 10 of BPL has recently concluded, where Fortune Barishal clinched their first title.
Lanka Premier League
- Next Edition: 1 July – 21 July 2024
- Most Successful Team: Jaffna Kings
- Winner Prize Money: 82.8 Lakhs
Sri Lankan Cricket, with an objective to offer an international level stage for their domestic players, established LPL in 2020. As of 2023, the nation has successfully hosted 4 editions, and the 5th one will run from 1 July 2024. Similar to the other years, 5 teams will compete in 24 matches (Double Round-robin and playoffs format) for the trophy and the prize money of USD 100,000.
Major League Cricket
- Next Edition: July 4, 2024
- Most Successful Team: MI New York
- Winner Prize Money: 4.18 Crores
Major League Cricket (MLC) debuted its first season on July 13, 2023, introducing six teams representing major US cities. Held at Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas and Church Street Park in North Carolina, the league marked a significant milestone for cricket in the United States. Although fairly new, there is no doubt that MLC will be one of the top-tier T20 leagues in the upcoming times. Moreover, the affiliation with IPL teams will surely boost its popularity.
SA20 League
- Next Edition: 2024–25
- Most Successful Team: Sunrisers Eastern Cape
- Winner Prize Money: 15 Crores
The SA20 League is a premier cricket tournament organized by Cricket South Africa. The first edition was played in 2022–23, and ever since, SA20 has never looked back. The league features top domestic and international players in fast-paced T20 cricket action. 6 Teams compete in a round-robin format, leading to playoffs and finals. The league has gained popularity for its vibrant atmosphere, packed stadiums, and global viewership. Also, association with IPL’s teams has a major role to play.
UAE International League T20
- Next Edition: 2025
- Most Successful Team: Gulf Giants and MI Emirates
- Winner Prize Money: 5.82 Crores
The UAE International League T20, aka DP World ILT20, is a professional Twenty20 cricket tournament held in the United Arab Emirates. In this league, six teams compete in a franchise-style format. The inaugural edition took place from January 13 to February 12, 2023, and was widely accepted by the fans. Besides serving entertainment purposes, ILT20 sets the stage for UAE local players, which is eventually a great thing for cricket.
Now that you know about all the major T20 leagues that are most popular around the globe, take a moment to tell us “Which one is your favorite T20 League in the World?”
Final Words on Best T20 Cricket League in the World
With that, we’re done discussing the top T20 leagues in world cricket. Hope you had a great time learning about them.
Yes, every T20 league mentioned in this article brings everything that cricket fans can ask for—from top international players taking center stage to fast paced action. But guess what? Here at Parimatch, we’ve got more for you!
Why enjoy the thrill from a distance when you can be a part of it? Create a Parimatch account today and make predictions on T20 cricket leagues of your choice. Place bets on thrilling matches and win alongside your favorite players and teams.
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FAQs
How many T20 leagues are there in the world?
As of 2023, there are around 44 active franchise and domestic cricket leagues based on the T20 format. While some regional cricket boards are planning to add a few, you might even see leagues cease to exist due to popularity downgrades in recent years.
Which is the best T20 league in the world?
The Indian Premier League is the best franchise cricket tournament in today’s time. In terms of revenue, it is the richest cricket league and sits at number 13th on the list of all sports.
Which is the biggest T20 tournament in the world?
Among all professional cricket leagues, the Indian Premier League is definitely the biggest. Be it in revenue, viewership, or popularity, IPL tops other popular cricket leagues in the world.
Which is the first T20 Premier League?
T20 Blast, aka Vitality Blast (for sponsorship reasons), is considered to be one of the oldest recognized T20 cricket leagues. It came into existence way back in 2003.
Which is the best T20 league team in the world?
The best T20 league team in the world may vary depending on the tournament and the country where it is played. For instance, in IPL, the best teams are Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. In BBL, however, Perth Scorchers is the most successful team.