Five similarities between 2011 and 2022 seasons of Indian T20 League

The 2011 season of the Indian T20 League saw several changes to its format. This was the first time when the tournament saw more than eight teams participating in it. The 2022 season of the tournament is about to get underway, and it has many similarities to the 2011 season. Here are all the similarities between the 2011 and 2022 seasons of the Indian T20 League.

Addition of two new teams and groups

In ITL 2011, two new teams, Pune and Kochi, entered the competition. The teams were divided into two groups where teams were to play two matches against teams of their own group and once again teams of the second group. They also clashed twice with one team of the other group. This year as well, two new teams, namely Lucknow and Gujarat, have been added to the league. The 2022 season will be played in the same group format that was used in 2011.

Chennai and Kolkata play the season opener

The first game of the ITL 2011 season was played between Chennai and Kolkata. The team captained by MS Dhoni won the nail-biter by a matter of two runs. In the game, Srikkanth Anirudha was named Player of the Match. The opening game of ITL 2022 will also take place between Chennai and Kolkata. Both teams met in 2021 final. 

Captain of Kolkata was transferred from Delhi at a huge price

Kolkata was seeking a new era player after three unsuccessful seasons. They bought Gautam Gambhir, their most costly purchase at the time and made him captain. He used to play for Delhi before. Similarly, Kolkata will be captained by Shreyas Iyer in ITL 2022, who was their most expensive signing during the auction. Iyer also played for the Delhi franchise before. Iyer, like Gambhir in 2011, had only represented one ITL franchise until he was signed by Kolkata.

Runners-up captain of the last 50-over world cup is the captain of Hyderabad

The Hyderabad team was the Deccan team at the time. The franchise was captained by Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara, who guided his country to the World Cup final in 2011. That final was won by India, with Sri Lanka finishing as runners-up. 

Similarly, Kane Williamson is the current captain of Hyderabad. Coincidently, he was the captain of runners-up in the previous 50-over World Cup. The Kiwis lost to England in the 2019 World Cup. 

Chennai won the previous season

ITL 2010 was won by Chennai. It was the franchise's first championship win, despite reaching the final in ITL 2008. MS Dhoni was the franchise's captain at the time. In ITL 2022, Chennai are the reigning champions, while MS Dhoni is still the captain.