IPL chairman Arun Dhumal dropped a hint to Sportstar that the Indian Premier League could soon split into two parts and shift to a September-October schedule. The idea isn’t just about shaking up the calendar—there’s also talk about ramping up the total number of matches from 74 to 94, so every team gets to play each other twice. Right now, teams play a weird mix: twice against five teams, once against the other four, all thanks to those virtual groups introduced in 2022.

The real expansion talk starts around 2028. That’s when Dhumal says they want to move to a structure where every team faces the others home and away. But to get there, the IPL probably needs to break out of its single-window format.

Dhumal mentioned they’ve heard plenty of suggestions, including holding the league in two separate stretches, with one of those likely to land in September-October. “At the moment, each team only gets seven home and seven away games. Ideally, with ten teams, you want nine home and nine away,” Dhumal told Sportstar. But there are headaches—fitting everything in around the international calendar and finding space for those extra games. “If we ever get a bigger window—maybe two more weeks—we’ll definitely look at going from 74 to 94 matches, so everyone gets a fair shot at home and away games.”

Why September-October, though? Dhumal says he isn’t worried about fans losing interest over a longer tournament. Broadcasters love that time of year—it’s right before Diwali, when advertisers are ready to spend big. “We need to chat with broadcasters to see if they’d go for a new window. One idea is September-October. Advertiser-wise, that’s the golden hour. If the next round of scheduling gives us that option, we’ll look at it.”

He’s also thinking about the weather. May is brutally hot in India, so they’re exploring new dates—maybe a February-April chunk, and then a later phase in the year. Whatever happens, Dhumal insists the IPL’s decisions aren’t just about BCCI. “IPL affects cricket boards and players everywhere. We’ll talk with our counterparts around the world and find a way that works for everyone.”

On reports that IPL viewership has dropped on satellite TV, Dhumal isn’t having any of it. He says the broadcasters are thrilled with the league’s performance, pointing to a rise in overall viewership and huge growth from regional broadcasts. “I have no idea where that report came from. The broadcaster’s own numbers show audience numbers up from last year. Regional channels have really helped us reach all corners of the country. They’re happy, and so are we.”