Indians live and breathe cricket the same way that people in South American countries live and breathe football. Cricket is a religion in India, and every game is watched with the same fervour and excitement as the previous one. Presently, with several glamourised formats such as Test Matches, T20, ODI and India’s very own IPL, cricket is not just a sport anymore; it is in fact, a multi-million dollar business too. But how did this humble sport evolve into the mammoth it is today? Read on to find out.
 
History of cricket
Cricket dates back hundreds of years. Minor changes have been made to the game, although the name and essential rules date back 400 years. First reference to cricket as an adult sport was in 1611, and a dictionary categorised it as a boys' pastime the same year. A batsman seeking to stop the ball from reaching its objective by hitting it away may have originated cricket from bowls. Since the first 11-man cricket match in 1697 in Sussex, England, the game has changed. In the 19th century, national championships and international matches were held for cricket.
 
Modern Cricket
Cricket's contemporary organisation and format emerged in the late 19th century. First County Championship was founded in 1890, and six-ball overs were introduced in 1900. Limited overs, single innings contests are the latest change in cricket. In the 1960s and 1970s, such matches gained popularity in England, and the Gillette Cup was created. Six years after the Gillette Cup was founded, the first ODI was played between England and Australia.
 
The Birth of the IPL
BCCI launched the IPL in 2007 after India won the T20 World Cup. The first season began in April 2008 with a "high-profile event". BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi created the IPL's framework, prize money, franchise revenue scheme, and squad makeup standards. A seven-man governing board of former India players and BCCI executives would oversee the IPL, and the top two clubs would qualify for the Champions League Twenty20. An auction was held on 24 January 2008 to determine the new league's owners. The teams' base values totaled $400 million. After the auction, the winning bids and home cities were announced: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mohali, and Mumbai. Franchises sold for $723.59 million. The Indian Cricket League collapsed in 2008, ushering in the all new Indian Premier League.
 
The Best 5 Seasons of IPL Ranked
As of 2022, there have been 15 seasons of the IPL, and all of them are legendary in their own rights. The present teams are - Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Many new records were made and many existing records were broken, and the IPL also played a huge role in unearthing and polishing new promising cricketers into seasoned stunners. Here are the top 5 seasons of the IPL in particular that are the most noteworthy and legendary in every way:
 
1. 2020 Season 
This event was eagerly anticipated as a respite by the whole cricket community, dedicated fans and the general public, and it did not disappoint. A  lot of games came down to the wire right from the beginning and there were several  memorable super overs, including a double super-over. The third and fourth spots on the table weren't decided until the very last day. This tournament kept everyone all on the verge of their seats right up until the very end. This competition was indeed the best there was in cricket.

2. 2018 Season​
The competition's 2018 iteration was an incredible journey. Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals made their comebacks during this season following a two-year suspension. Additionally, it was the edition that saw the debut of the iconic Decision Review System. Many sixes were hit during the 2018 IPL,  872 of them precisely. In addition to this, CSK's victory against SH that season concluded a remarkable cinematic arc. Consequently, this competition is historic.
 
3. 2012 Season
Even before the first ball was bowled, the season's theme song, "Aisa Mauka Aur Kaha Milega," had already made it unforgettable. Many close games and outstanding batting performances occurred during this season as well. The first time a team qualified for the playoffs based on a greater run-rate was in 2012. By a margin of five wickets, Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Chennai Super Kings. IPL 5 attracted more viewers during its entire run than any of its predecessors, despite a sluggish beginning.

4. 2016 Season
This season saw the introduction of two new teams, the Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions, based in Pune and Rajkot, respectively. In addition, Virat Kohli's 973 runs for RCB during the 2016 IPL helped him win the orange cap and he had one of the best batting seasons ever. RCB also successfully completed a comeback and made it to the playoffs. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad, an often underrated team, gloriously defeated RCB to win the event by an 8-run margin.
2008 Season
 
5. Last but not the least, the inaugural year of the IPL will always be remembered as one of the tournament's most notable historical moments.
Everyone was unfamiliar with the concept, and there was a general sense of enthusiasm that undoubtedly spread to the participants. The first season was won by Rajasthan Royals over Chennai Super Kings by a margin of three wickets. Few people initially anticipated that the series would succeed. There were many strong teams, but RR achieved the unthinkable by winning the championship by using young and somewhat unknown cricketers.
 
The success of the Indian Premier League in a nation whose cricket board mocked the Twenty20 format demonstrates that the story of the tournament's rise to prominence is a parable about the potent combination of wonderfully timed luck and pragmatism. Because of this, the Indian Premier League has developed into a league that is unlike any other in the world of cricket.