IPL now one of the biggest leagues in world, Graeme Smith says

Nearly twenty years since its inception, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has firmly established itself as one of the most influential sporting leagues in the world. Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith believes the IPL’s remarkable rise has positioned the ten-team competition among the biggest global leagues across all sports.

Smith played 29 IPL matches, scoring 739 runs with four half-centuries. Besides representing Pune Warriors in 2011, he featured for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) under the iconic Shane Warne during the league’s first three seasons — helping the team lift the trophy in the inaugural 2008 edition.

“People often forget how much had to fall into place during the IPL’s early years for it to grow the way it did. Today, it stands as one of the major leagues worldwide across all sports. In our first three seasons, we’ve seen similar growth in many areas at SA20, and we hope that continues,” said Smith, now the SA20 League commissioner, at the SA20 India Day event.

He emphasised the need to strengthen the league and cultivate a robust pool of local players, drawing parallels between SA20’s development and the IPL’s early trajectory. “At the heart of everything is the quality of cricket. Each year the standard improves, and the local player base keeps expanding. That’s been one of the IPL’s greatest strengths.”

Reflecting on his 2008 stint with Rajasthan Royals, Smith added, “When I look at how Indian talent has evolved since that first IPL season, it’s clear what a strong local base can achieve. That’s exactly what we want for SA20, alongside the presence of world-class players.”