Cricket Tournaments and Leagues

1. Indian Premier League

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in India, founded in 2007 and held annually from March to May. The 2025 season, the 18th edition, took place between March 22 and May 25, with matches held across 13 cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata. The tournament features 10 private franchise teams competing in a dual-group format, where each team plays 14 league matches before the top four teams qualify for the playoffs and then the final to decide the champion.

The participating teams in 2025 were Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Each franchise is owned by private companies or business owners, which adds financial stability and competitiveness to the league.

Betting options for IPL matches include wagers on match winners, top batsmen and bowlers, total runs scored, toss results, player performances, and live in-play bets during games.

Key features of the Indian Premier League:

• Significant economic impact on host cities, supporting local jobs and businesses
• 10 private franchise teams representing major Indian cities
• Dual-group league format with playoffs and final
• Combination of top Indian and international cricket players
• High-profile player auction before each season
• Matches held in 13 prominent Indian stadiums
• Strong global broadcasting and media rights deals
• Entertainment elements including cheerleaders, live music, and special events
• One of the richest cricket leagues worldwide by revenue
• Large fan following and high stadium attendance

2. ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is a major international cricket tournament held every four years in the One Day International (ODI) format, organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It is one of the most watched sports events worldwide and is regarded as the flagship tournament in international cricket. Since its first edition in 1975, the World Cup has grown significantly, with ten teams competing in the latest 2023 event held entirely in India from October 5 to November 19. Australia leads with six titles, while India and the West Indies have each won twice, and Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and England have one title each.

The tournament features national teams, with ten countries participating in 2023, including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. The 2027 World Cup will expand to 14 teams and be hosted jointly by South Africa and Zimbabwe, with Namibia hosting for the first time.

Qualification for the tournament happens over the previous three years through the ICC ODI League, with the top seven teams plus the host nation qualifying automatically. Matches take place over about a month in the host country or countries.

Betting options for the World Cup include match winner, top batsman, top bowler, total runs, tournament winner, toss results, and in-play live bets.

Key features of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup:

• Held every four years in the ODI format
• Features national teams, with 10 to 14 participants depending on the edition
• Hosts selected by ICC, sometimes shared by multiple countries
• Qualification through ICC ODI League over three years
• Rich history with records held by players like Sachin Tendulkar (most runs) and Muttiah Muralitharan (most wickets)
• Trophy symbolizes cricket’s main skills: batting, bowling, and fielding
• Matches played in multiple venues within host nations
• One of the world’s most watched and prestigious cricket tournaments
• Strong global betting interest with many wager types available
• Expanding format from 2027 to increase participation and competitiveness

3. ICC Champions Trophy

The ICC Champions Trophy began in 1998 as a short ODI cricket tournament created by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to support the growth of cricket in countries without Test status. The first two editions were hosted by Bangladesh and Kenya, ICC Associate members, to boost cricket’s popularity there. Since then, the tournament has grown into a key event featuring the world’s top cricket teams.

The Champions Trophy features eight top-ranked national teams divided into two groups of four. Each team plays the others in its group once, with the top two teams advancing to the semifinals and then the final. The 2025 tournament groups included Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh in Group A, and South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, and England in Group B.

Fourteen teams have participated across nine editions. India leads with three titles (2002, 2013, 2025), Australia has two, and South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Pakistan have one each. India is the current champion after winning in 2025.

The 2025 Champions Trophy took place in Pakistan and the UAE, with matches held at National Stadium Karachi, Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, and Dubai International Cricket Stadium for matches involving India. The tournament occurs every four years, with the next scheduled in India in 2029.

Betting options for the Champions Trophy include match winner, top batsman, total runs, team progression, toss result, and live in-play betting.

Key features of the ICC Champions Trophy:

• Strong global interest and a key event on the cricket calendar
• Founded to support cricket development in non-Test nations
• Features 8 top-ranked national teams in ODI format
• Teams divided into two groups, followed by semifinals and final
• Qualification based on results from previous Cricket World Cup
• Prize pool of $2.24 million in 2025
• Matches held every four years, hosted by ICC member nations
• Points system rewards wins and considers Net Run Rate for ties
• Hosted in multiple venues, often shared between countries
• India holds the most titles (3), current champion as of 2025

4. T20 World Cup

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a big cricket event played in the Twenty20 International (T20I) style. Since it started in 2007, 24 nations played in it. Nine teams played in every tournament. Six teams won the title. West Indies, England, and India won twice each. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Australia won once each. Pakistan reached the semi-finals six times. The United States reached the Super 8 in 2024, the best for a non-Test nation. No host nation has won yet. Sri Lanka was runner-up in 2012.

The tournament happens every two years. Teams split into groups and play each other once. The best teams move to the next stage called Super 8 or Super 12. Then there are semi-finals and a final. If teams tie, a Super Over decides the winner. If still tied, more Super Overs continue until a winner appears.

All ICC full members qualify directly. Other teams enter through qualification events. The tournament starts with a group stage and then the Super round with round-robin matches. The top four teams go to semi-finals.

Twenty teams play, divided into four groups. The top two from each group move to Super 8. Fifteen countries hosted the event before, including six island nations in the West Indies. India is the current champion with its second title in 2024. The next tournament will be in India and Sri Lanka in 2026.

Hosts get chosen by the ICC executive committee after reviewing bids. Past hosts include South Africa, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, and Australia. The 2020 event was delayed and moved to UAE and Oman in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Upcoming hosts are West Indies and USA in 2024, India and Sri Lanka in 2026, Australia and New Zealand in 2028, and England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland in 2030.

Key features of the T20 World Cup:

• The event shows fast and strategic cricket that influences modern play
• Live betting during matches
• Each team bats for 20 overs; each bowler can bowl up to 4 overs
• Each over must start within 60 seconds of the previous one finishing
• Two semi-final matches decide finalists
• Matches take place in cities in the United States (Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, New York) and Caribbean islands (Barbados, Antigua, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago)
• Broadcast on many TV channels and online platforms worldwide

5. Champions League Twenty20

The Champions League Twenty20 was a cricket tournament between domestic teams from different countries. It started in 2009 and ended in 2014. It was organised by cricket boards of India, Australia, and South Africa. The last edition was in 2014. Chennai Super Kings won the final edition and got their second title.

The tournament took place in September or October. Matches were played in India or South Africa. The event lasted two or three weeks. The total prize fund was $6 million. The winning team got $2.5 million, which was the highest prize in club cricket.

The tournament had teams from the top T20 domestic leagues. Teams from India, Australia, and South Africa entered directly. Other teams had to pass a qualifying stage. Each team named 15 players before the event. A maximum of four international players could play in one match. All players had to be officially signed by their teams. In 2011, one exception was made for Mumbai Indians, who were allowed to play five overseas players.

The tournament ended in 2015. Low TV ratings, weak audience interest, and unstable sponsorship led to its cancellation.

Key Features of the Champions Leaguue Twenty20:

• Other teams came through qualification
• T20 format with group and knockout stages
• Domestic teams from multiple countries
• $6 million prize pool
• $2.5 million went to the winner
• 15-player squads per team
• Maximum of 4 international players allowed per match
• Held between 2009 and 2014
• Hosted mainly in India and sometimes in South Africa
• Inspired changes in T20 cricket across the world
• Teams from India, Australia, and South Africa had direct entry

6. Ashes Series

The Ashes is a Test cricket series played every two years between the national teams of England and Australia. The name comes from an 1882 newspaper obituary after Australia won a Test match in England, saying English cricket had died and its “ashes” were taken to Australia. Since then, both teams compete to “regain the Ashes”. The original small urn, said to hold ashes of a wooden bail, is a symbol of the rivalry, though the official trophy today is a crystal urn presented to the series winner.

Each Ashes series has five Test matches held alternately in England and Australia. Matches take place at famous cricket grounds in each country, such as Lord’s and The Oval in England, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia. The team winning the most matches takes the series, while the current holder keeps the trophy if the series ends in a draw.

Betting options usually include match winner, series winner, draws, player stats, and handicaps.

Key Features of the Ashes Series:

• Played between England and Australia national teams
• Five Test matches per series, held every two years
• Matches alternate between venues in England and Australia
• The original urn is a historic symbol; the official trophy is a crystal urn
• Points system: 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw, 0 points for a loss
• Series lasts several weeks, each Test can last up to five days
• Known for intense rivalry and historic moments
• Popular betting options include match winner, series winner, draws, and player performance

7. Big Bash League

The Big Bash League (BBL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket tournament in Australia. It began in 2011, replacing the old KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. The league has eight city-based teams instead of six state teams. KFC has sponsored the league since the start.

By the 2016/17 season, BBL was one of the top ten domestic sports leagues in attendance, alongside the Indian Premier League. The 2024/25 season (BBL 14) was won by the Hobart Hurricanes, who defeated the Sydney Thunder in the final.

The tournament format changed several times. The first season had 28 group matches, growing to 32 the next year. Early seasons had each team play eight games, with some teams playing others twice to allow local derbies in Sydney and Melbourne. From 2017/18, teams played 10 matches each. Starting in 2018/19, teams played every other team twice, making 56 matches in total. The 2023/24 season was shorter, with 40 group matches and four finals. The finals format also changed, sometimes including five teams and a “double chance” for the top two. Since 2023/24, four teams reach the playoffs, with the top two still having a double chance.

The league features eight city-based franchises. Sydney and Melbourne have two teams each; other capitals have one each. Each team can have up to 19 players, including rookies and overseas players, but only three international players can play in a match.

Matches are played at 17 grounds across Australia. Sydney Thunder moved to Sydney Showground Stadium in 2015. Perth Scorchers moved from WACA to Optus Stadium in 2017. Some teams play a few games at smaller venues around the country. Finals are held at the home ground of the higher-ranked team, except in 2014/15 when a neutral ground was used.

Key Features of the Big Bash League

• Twenty20 format with fast, high-scoring games
• Participation of top Australian and international players
• Local rivalries in Sydney and Melbourne attract large crowds
• Entertainment during games, such as fireworks and music
• Strong fan following across Australia and globally
• Environmental focus with carbon-neutral goals and eco-friendly stadiums
• Some matches available in virtual reality
• Interactive viewing options with multiple camera angles and live stats

9. Asia Cup

The Asia Cup started in 1983 to promote friendly relations between Asian countries. It is the main cricket tournament in Asia where national teams compete to become the champion of the continent. India won the 2023 tournament and are the current champions. The first event took place in 1984 in Sharjah, UAE. Political tensions have sometimes affected participation, such as India and Pakistan boycotting or cancelling certain editions. Since 2009, the tournament has been held every two years.

The Asia Cup uses a round-robin format where each team plays the others in a group stage and then advances to a Super 4 stage. Matches carry official One Day International (ODI) or Twenty20 International (T20I) status. Since 2016, the tournament alternates formats every two years to prepare teams for upcoming world events.

The tournament features senior men’s national teams from Asian countries. In 2025, eight teams are expected: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, the UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong. India leads with eight titles, Sri Lanka has six, and Pakistan has two.

The Asia Cup is held every two years, hosted by different Asian countries. The location depends on factors like politics, logistics, and weather. For example, in 2023, matches took place in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka due to political tensions and weather concerns. In 2022, the event moved to the UAE because of a crisis in Sri Lanka.

Key features of the Asia Cup:

• Established in 1983 by the Asian Cricket Council
• Held every two years with round-robin and Super 4 stages
• Alternates between ODI and T20I formats since 2016
• Contested by senior men’s national teams from Asia
• India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan are top winning teams
• 8 teams expected in 2025 including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong
• Venue selection based on political, logistical, and weather factors
• Matches have official international status (ODI or T20I)
• Asia’s main continental cricket championship

10. The Australian Tri-Series

The Australian Tri-Series was a one-day international (ODI) cricket tournament held mainly in Australia. It involved three national teams: Australia and two visiting teams. The idea started with World Series Cricket in the late 1970s but became an official ODI event from 1979–80.

The series used a round-robin format where each team played the others multiple times. The two top teams then faced off in a best-of-three final series, with the third final played only if needed. While details changed slightly over the years, the basic format stayed consistent.

Australia dominated the tournament, winning 20 out of 31 series by 2014–15. West Indies was the next most successful team, winning six times. England, India, Pakistan, and South Africa each won once. Australia missed the finals only three times.

The tournament ran every Australian summer from 1979–80 until 2007–08. After that, it was held only twice, as Australia switched to bilateral ODI series. A brief return occurred in 2011–12 but was not permanent. In 2014–15, a shortened version with seven matches took place before the World Cup.

Key features of the Australian Tri-Series:

• Served as a key international ODI competition in Australia for decades
• Started in 1979–80, based on the World Series Cricket tri-series concept
• Annual ODI tournament featuring Australia and two touring national teams
• Round-robin format followed by a best-of-three final series
• Australia won 20 of 31 tournaments; West Indies won six
• Played during Australian summer months: December to February
• Held every season until 2007–08, then held only twice after
• Returned briefly in 2011–12 and shortened in 2014–15 with seven matches