In the 2023 IPL, 132 non-Indian players from 13 nations pitched for franchisee slots. In 2022, The Hundred League attracted 35 foreign players from 7 countries. The above are leading indicators in many senses, of how cricket leagues have developed global roots, connected deeply to a relation mired in colonial history but now rewired as a legacy which both liberals and right wingers would happily claim as legacy.
 
The IPL was conceived in India to fulfill the enormous potential of Cricket as a public spectacle, enjoying a greater fan base than any other sporting discipline in India. It drew inspiration from global soccer leagues where franchisees are staffed by the finest talent from the world, as opposed to a ‘nation-first’ playing model which was thus far prevalent.
 
The other compelling insight was the nonstop appetite of viewing audiences, whether live or on-screen, which when mixed with regional loyalties to their teams, forged a deadly cocktail.
IPL over time became pure play entertainment, in the same consideration as watching movies, and its all-inclusive family formula made it a super hit. So much so that the Women’s IPL has kicked off in 2023, adding serious legs of meaning.
 
A key outcome of the IPL has been the spirit of camaraderie between multiple nationalities united by team colours. This has even extended to the test match arena as the on-field friendliness of Australians versus India in the recent series irked folks like Allan Border, belonging to a more antagonistic era. It is necessary to note that none of this was at the cost of professional intensity, operating at a logical peak.
 
The Hundred League, in its unique format, promises to extend this journey further as it picks momentum. A celebration of serious sport with significant opportunities for glory and community engagement. Also, a recurring forum for sharpening sporting skills as the finest across the globe learn from each other for the betterment of the sport. Globally many such leagues have taken off, flaunting a similar procurement model of both players and viewers.
 
The important takeaway is that the integration never stays restricted to just the playing arena as players spend months in foreign lands as part of local teams. Thus, they get exposed spontaneously to unfamiliar cultures and enhance their overall sensitivities. As passionate stakeholders of multicultural Britain, we believe that the IPL and The Hundred League are exemplary benchmarks of scalable unifiers.
 
Cricket is the best example of how past can be transformed and not rejected; a legacy that creates a bond and not rewriting history that alienates.

IPL2023 is live on SKY Cricket and DAZN app with brands such as Remitly, Tata Tea, ICICI bank as jet advertisers