Ness Wadia with Shreyas Iyer (L) & KKR co-owners Juhi Chawla & SRK (Source: @PunjabKingsIPL/X & AFP Photos)
There has been a new talk of the town around whether the Indian Premier League (IPL), widely regarded as the undisputed T20 franchise league in the world, should have a winter window instead of a summer season.
KKR co-owner Juhi Chawla already vouched for the idea, and Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia joined hands to extend his support to the subject.
Lalit Modi Floats January IPL Start Plan; Ness Wadia, Juhi Chawla Back Idea
IPL founder Lalit Modi first proposed holding the IPL from January onwards, instead of kicking off the proceedings at the end of March.
Chawla stepped up on social media to show her support, and Punjab Kings owner Wadia, in a conversation with Cricbuzz, said Punjab Kings ‘would love to’ participate in the new window if the BCCI approves the idea.
“We would love to. I think the first thing we have to do is have more matches (94 games). If that means shifting the window, even better, because, you know, with the weather today, there is rain and then it gets very hot. It would be ideal to have it in January," Wadia told Cricbuzz.
However, at the same time, Wadia highlighted the importance of India’s domestic competitions, which have to be tweaked if the IPL schedule moves to have a start in January.
“I think we have to look at the domestic calendars of India and other countries, as well as the international calendar, and then assess it from that perspective. But yes, I think conceptually, it's a good idea," he added.
Why January Start Could Be New Ideal Season For IPL
From a neutral perspective, the IPL's January start would be a good idea for both players and spectators. Cricket, of course, looks much better in winter than in summer, and it also reduces the likelihood of rain.
At the same time, it is also important to see whether big cricket nations such as Australia and England, which tend to schedule high-voltage bilateral series during the same window, can manage the international schedule accordingly.
