Adelaide Oval hatching plan to host regular season IPL match

Adelaide Oval is hatching a bold plan to host a regular season IPL game as soon as next March. 

The ambitious idea, hatched by Adelaide Oval chairman Jamie Briggs and SACA boss Will Rayner, has been discussed with several key stakeholders in recent weeks. 

Though the BCCI is yet to be formally notified, these conversations are coming soon. 

But sources with knowledge of high level discussions in Adelaide believe the ploy to bring an early season match to Australia could be used as part of a reciprocal arrangement with the BBL keen to play a match in Chennai.

Adelaide Oval is already in the market to host the 2028 T20 World Cup final.

The NFL going abroad has given South Australian sporting authorities confidence to reach for the stars. 

An IPL match in Australia would sell out in minutes and bring tens of millions of eyeballs to the city, which has already used sport as a means for tourism via LIV Golf and the AFL’s Gather Round. 

CRICKET SUPERSTARS LOCKED IN FOR SEN'S IPL COVERAGE

The South Australian government believes there is a halo impact for these events, which means the economic benefit four outweighs the food and drink purchased when they are staged. 

Adelaide Oval officials believe a cricket arena could turn into an AFL field in as little as 48 hours, paving the way for an IPL game in late March - after the beginning of the football season - and at the start of the juggernaut Indian tournament.

They also believe March is the best time for cricket from a climatic perspective. 

South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas' team has been informally engaged, as has Don Farrell from a federal trade standpoint, plus Cricket Australia Chairman Mike Baird.

Tourism South Australia has also given its early tick of approval, aware that there are many more steps before the plan can become a reality. 

Cricket Australia chief Todd Greendberg was made aware during the Sheffield Shield Final of Adelaide Oval's ambitions. 

When contacted by SEN, Briggs confirmed interest in bringing a regular season IPL game to the City of Churches. 

This comes as Cricket Australia explores beginning the next BBL season in Chennai, as reported on SEN's The New Ball last month.

BBL clubs have been sent expressions of interest for the concept, which is yet to be ticked off by the BCCI.