IPL - Duleep Trophy Brand Extension! Possible? | Samir Pai

Long-format cricket is the most prestigious form of the game — but it is no longer the most commercially viable.

And that is the paradox Indian cricket must confront.

In this episode of The Inner Athlete, we explore a bold idea:

👉 Using IPL franchisees as a brand extension tool to revive the Duleep Trophy and long-format domestic cricket in India.

Drawing from personal experience in sports management research, domestic cricket history, and global league structures, this video breaks down why the Duleep Trophy has struggled commercially and how private equity and IPL brands can change that.

What this video covers:
🔹 Why long-format cricket struggles commercially despite its prestige
🔹 The history and purpose of the Duleep Trophy
🔹 Why zonal teams lack identity and fan connection
🔹 The importance of team identity in building sports fandom
🔹 How IPL franchises can act as brand extensions in long-format cricket
🔹 A proposed franchise participation and player remuneration model
🔹 Why brand leverage matters more than short-term profit
🔹 The need to restructure long-format cricket formats
🔹 Why India should innovate its own test-cricket format
🔹 How even 1/20th of IPL revenue could transform domestic cricket

This is not nostalgia.

This is sports management, brand strategy, and economic optimization applied to Indian cricket.

👇 Share your thoughts in the comments.

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