Cricket
The T20 league English and Indian fans search every season. This page has 50 important questions and answers.
The Indian Premier League is a professional T20 cricket league run by the BCCI. City franchises buy players in an auction, then play a round-robin and playoffs. It is a franchise league, not a national-team World Cup.
Formats and squad rules change in the handbook each year — read the official IPL site for the current season, not a 2018 blog.
50 important questions. Quick 10 is a random set; Full set plays every question.
Original explainers for English readers — not copied match reports or official papers. Tap a question to see the answer.
Answer: T20 cricket
Twenty overs a side.
Answer: an auction and retentions
Purses and RTMs are published each year.
Answer: the BCCI
It is not the ICC World Cup.
Answer: two innings of up to 20 overs
Super Overs decide some ties.
Answer: qualifier and eliminator matches after the league stage
The exact bracket is in that season’s playing conditions.
Answer: a squad tweak during the match under IPL rules
Check whether the current season still uses it.
Answer: India vs Australia in a Test series
The World Cup is a different ICC event.
Answer: the season’s leading run-scorer
Purple Cap is typically the leading wicket-taker.
Answer: city franchises
Boards do not auction a country.
Answer: a franchise XI
It is a league cup, not an ICC urn.
Answer: the season's leading wicket-taker
Orange Cap is the run leader.
Answer: India
A few games have been staged abroad in some years.
Answer: Indian and overseas players under a cap
Overseas slots are limited.
Answer: a round-robin among franchises
Playoffs follow the table.
Answer: a game is tied under IPL conditions
Each side faces a tiny extra innings.
Answer: a short break in IPL playing conditions
Captains and coaches use the pause.
Answer: professional T20 franchise league
Same bat and ball, short format.
Answer: tied to franchises in Indian cities
Pitches still vary by venue.
Answer: one T20 after the playoff bracket
Reserve days can sit in the handbook.
Answer: the franchise salary purse
The purse is capped.
Answer: normal IPL kit
Night games use white balls.
Answer: three wickets in three legal balls
Same definition as other cricket.
Answer: who bats or bowls first
Dew can shape the choice.
Answer: DLS for a new target
Overs can be cut.
Answer: six legal deliveries
Wides and no-balls add extras.
Answer: T20 powerplay rules
The circle is painted on.
Answer: Qualifier and Eliminator
The bracket is in that season's conditions.
Answer: cannot bat or bowl unless sub rules allow
Concussion substitutes are a special case.
Answer: entertainment, not a match result
The first ball still starts the league.
Answer: exist as separate franchises
Derbies are league games.
Answer: wins, then NRR and other tie-breaks
Net run rate is the common splitter.
Answer: ten wickets fall
All out stops the 20 overs.
Answer: a cricket bat and ball
Boundaries and wickets still decide it.
Answer: apply the Laws and IPL conditions
A third umpire handles reviews.
Answer: adds a run and another ball
Leg-side wides are common in T20.
Answer: is an illegal delivery with extras
A free hit often follows in T20.
Answer: the open auction for that cycle
Rules sit in that year's memo.
Answer: bowling at the end of an innings
Yorkers and slower balls are common.
Answer: the ball clears the rope on the full
Four is along the ground or a bounce.
Answer: the auction plus retentions
Replacements can fill injury gaps.
Answer: a separate BCCI T20 competition
It has its own auction.
Answer: investors, not automatic captains
The XI is picked by team staff.
Answer: a separate honour, not the league title
It does not seed the final by itself.
Answer: shares points if it cannot be completed
Playoff weather rules can differ.
Answer: a no-ball under T20 conditions
The batter cannot be out in most ways.
Answer: an IPL squad tweak during a match
Check whether that season still uses the rule.
Answer: show elements, not scoring laws
The ball still has to be bowled.
Answer: a compact annual league, not a five-day Test tour
The handbook lists start dates.
Answer: set fields and bowling changes for a franchise
The toss is still their call.
Answer: kept before the auction under that season’s rules
Purses shrink when retentions cost more.
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