Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal, the chairman of the Vedanta Group, has thrown his weight behind a bold idea for the next phase of the Indian Premier League. The 72-year-old, who was born in Patna in 1954, believes the IPL should eventually add a franchise representing Bihar as well.
A Bihar IPL franchise: why Agarwal thinks it matters
Agarwal’s proposal comes at a time when the league has seen major expansion in recent years. Just four seasons ago, two fresh franchises—Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants—were introduced to the high-profile tournament.
In his argument, Agarwal points to Bihar’s population and the state’s place in the cricket landscape. He also highlights the presence of multiple IPL-linked players who were born in Bihar, using their stories as evidence that the region has produced talent capable of thriving on the biggest stages.
Players born in Bihar used to build the case
On Friday, Agarwal shared a post in Hindi on X, pressing his point by referencing well-known names associated with the IPL. The list included Ishan Kishan, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a teenage prospect who is part of Rajasthan Royals, and Sakib Hussain, who also plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad. All three, Agarwal noted, were born in Bihar.
- Ishan Kishan, born in Patna, is credited with scoring the fastest ODI double century in terms of balls faced.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from Samastipur was highlighted as the youngest player to make an IPL debut.
- Sakib Hussain, born in Gopalganj to an “ordinary” background, was mentioned for the impact he is making through his bowling.
“Bihar hasn’t got the cricket identity it deserves”
While praising Bihar’s contribution to Indian cricket, Agarwal also expressed frustration that the state has not yet earned the recognition and identity in the sport that he believes it deserves. He questioned why Bihar has not been given its own IPL team, framing it as a matter of pride and overdue opportunity.
In the post, he directly asked whether Bihar should not receive an exclusive franchise “just like” established IPL sides including Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Kolkata Knight Riders. He added that Bihar’s soil has produced many exceptional cricketers.
Infrastructure, youth opportunity, and Agarwal’s pledge
Agarwal then broadened the focus beyond the franchise itself, arguing that Bihar’s youth need structured pathways to excel. He noted that Bihar is widely viewed as India’s poorest state and that for years it did not even have its own state cricket board.
He suggested that meaningful changes have begun only recently, and he tied his message to the dream of ensuring local players receive world-class infrastructure and support within Bihar.
- Agarwal said it has been his dream to make sure young people in Bihar get full chances to succeed in every field.
- He argued that Bihar-based players should have access to high-quality facilities and backing right at home.
- He expressed confidence that with the right inspiration and resources, a Bihar team could become among the best in the world.
- He said he would stand firmly with Bihar’s youth and provide unconditional support to move the state’s cricket team and its players forward.
Concluding his post, Agarwal described Bihar not merely as a geographic region, but as “an emotion,” adding that the moment has arrived for the talent nurtured by the state to shine on the field.
