Bihar to get its own IPL team? Billionaire’s proposal sparks fresh expansion debate

Indian billionaire and Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal has sparked a fresh debate around the expansion of the Indian Premier League after expressing his wish to see a franchise from Bihar in the future.

The IPL currently features 10 franchises after the inclusion of Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2022, but Agarwal believes Bihar also deserves representation in the world’s biggest T20 league.

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Anil Agarwal pitches for Bihar IPL franchise

Agarwal, who was born in Patna in 1954, shared a detailed post on social media highlighting Bihar’s contribution to Indian cricket and why the state deserves its own IPL team.

The industrialist mentioned players like Ishan Kishan, teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sakib Hussain — all of whom hail from Bihar.

"Don't you think Bihar deserves an unparalleled team of its own, just like Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Kolkata Knight Riders?" Agarwal wrote.

"The soil of Bihar has given the country many exceptional cricketers," he added while praising the achievements of Bihar-born players in Indian cricket.

The billionaire also pointed out how Ishan Kishan registered the fastest ODI double century in terms of balls faced, while Vaibhav Suryavanshi became one of the youngest players to make an IPL debut.

He further praised Sakib Hussain’s rise from a humble background in Gopalganj to the IPL stage.

Billionaire promises support for Bihar cricket

Agarwal also admitted that it has always bothered him that Bihar has not received the cricketing identity it deserves despite producing talented players consistently.

The Vedanta Group chairman further stated that he wants Bihar’s youth to receive proper opportunities, infrastructure and support systems within the state itself.

"It has always been my dream and endeavour to ensure that the youth of Bihar get full opportunities to excel in every field, and that our players receive world-class infrastructure and support right here in Bihar," Agarwal wrote.

He also promised unconditional support toward the development of cricket in Bihar.

"For me, Bihar is not just a state—it's an emotion. And now the time has come for the talent of our soil to shine on the field," he added.

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Bihar remains one of the few major Indian states without IPL representation despite having a massive cricket fanbase and population. The state’s cricket structure itself struggled for years before receiving proper recognition and administrative stability in recent times.

Agarwal’s statement has now reignited discussions over whether the IPL could eventually expand beyond 10 teams in the future.