New Delhi: The Delhi Premier League T20 is into its second season and has already expanded to eight teams from six. The expansion of the league has meant the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is generating enough revenue to earmark more funds for purposes of cricket development. “For financial viability we are looking to save about close to 40% to 50% of the revenue that is generated through the league, for the purpose of consumption by the association in a year. Effectively, the annual expense on cricket development during the domestic season can be underwritten by a league of this repute and stature,” DDCA president Rohan Jaitley told TOI. Jaitley is optimistic that at some point the league will be big enough to sell media rights. “We have to procure the rights as of now. I’m hoping with time that it’s going to tip over and maybe become a neutral revenue generator on rights,” he said. “It depends on the quality of the league and the quality of the marquee players. Delhi has enough marquee players and talent to have eight teams. No state league is competing with each other. If a league is going great with four teams, then it should stick with it. You can’t compromise on the quality. We’ve seen viewership has grown as the tournament has progressed this year.” The biggest challenge right now, however, is to have multiple venues, since the Arun Jaitley stadium is hosting all matches across genders. Jaitley said the association is keen on setting up another stadium, though it will take another three-four years to realise that dream. “If our plan of having a new stadium culminates as planned, it will be a breather on the league. At some point we should be financially capable of having multiple venues with full setup in place,” Jaitley said.
