Most cricket premier league team names follow one formula: a place plus a power word, as in Chennai Super Kings or Quetta Gladiators. Below are the current teams in the IPL, PSL, and Caribbean Premier League, why names keep changing, and a set of original ideas for naming teams in your own local league.
Which league do you mean?
“Cricket Premier League” isn’t a single competition. The phrase usually points to one of three:
- the Indian Premier League (IPL)
- the Caribbean Premier League (CPL)
- a local, school, or office league that borrows the “Premier League” label
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) isn’t a “premier league” by name, but people searching this keyword often want it too, so it’s covered below.
IPL: the ten franchises
Ten franchises play in the IPL: Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers (Bangalore, since renamed Bengaluru), Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans, and Lucknow Super Giants.
Three of those names are newer than they look:
- Delhi Daredevils became Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2019 season, in a rebrand that coincided with JSW Sports acquiring a 50% stake.
- Kings XI Punjab became Punjab Kings on 17 February 2021. Co-owner Ness Wadia said the change was meant to relook at things after 13 seasons.
- Royal Challengers Bangalore became Royal Challengers Bengaluru in March 2024, matching the city’s official name, which had changed to Bengaluru back in 2014.
One account on Royal Challengers’ own site adds that the Mumbai Indians were originally planned as the Mumbai Razors until Sachin Tendulkar intervened. It’s a franchise-published source, so treat it as one account.
PSL: eight teams, with some naming turbulence
The PSL expanded from six teams to eight for its 11th edition in 2026. The BBC lists the eight as Hyderabad Kingsmen, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, and Rawalpindiz.
Two things make PSL names tricky to pin down:
- Spelling varies between outlets. The eighth franchise appears as “Rawalpindiz” in some reports and “Rawalpindi Pindiz” in others. Hyderabad’s launch ceremony announced the name “Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen”, while most schedules shorten it to Hyderabad Kingsmen.
- The expansion story shifted. The January 2026 auction awarded the seventh and eighth slots to Hyderabad and Sialkot. By tournament time the BBC reported that a Sialkot Stallionz franchise had been taken over and rebranded as Multan Sultans, with Rawalpindiz filling the new slot. Since the names moved around, check the PSL’s official site for the final form.
Before the new franchises had names, one Pakistani newspaper floated ideas rooted in each city, such as Hyderabad Nawabs and Sialkot Titans. It also pointed out that reusing Sialkot Stallions would raise questions about brand duplication, a useful reminder for anyone naming a team.
CPL: names that follow the owners
The Caribbean Premier League’s original six teams were Antigua Hawksbills, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Lucia Zouks, and Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel. Several names have since changed. Ahead of the 2021 season, the Tridents became Barbados Royals and the Zouks became St Lucia Kings, following rebranding from franchises that also own IPL teams. That shows a second pattern: a team’s name can follow its owner’s brand, not just its city.
Hyderabad’s PSL team shows the same thing. The owner group is linked to Kingsmen Cricket, a team that has competed in American leagues, which fits the Kingsmen name.
The anatomy of a cricket franchise name
| Pattern | Examples | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| City + royalty word | Karachi Kings, Rajasthan Royals | Instantly sounds dominant |
| City + warrior/fighter | Quetta Gladiators, Guyana Amazon Warriors | Signals aggression |
| City + local nature or culture | Antigua Hawksbills | Gives the team a local identity |
| City + abstract idea | United, Capitals, Titans | Short and flexible for rebrands |
| Owner-brand echo | Barbados Royals, Hyderabad Kingsmen | Ties teams in the same group together |
The practical takeaway: almost every successful name is short, begins with a place, and ends in a word that sounds strong when a commentator says it.
Why names change, and why you should check
Names change for four reasons visible in the examples above:
- A new owner or rebrand (Delhi Capitals, Barbados Royals)
- A city’s official name changes (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
- A franchise changes hands (the PSL’s Multan story)
- A fresh start after underperforming (Punjab Kings)
If you’re writing about a current team, check the league’s official page for the latest name, since spellings and branding shift between seasons.
Naming the teams in your own league
If you’re running a school, office, or neighborhood cricket league, borrow the pattern, not the names. Copying a real franchise outright is harmless in a casual group, but it’s weak if you want your own identity or plan to print shirts.
Pattern: place + power word. Use your street, school, park, or office. Examples: Riverside Strikers, Northgate Knights, Old Town Spinners.
Cricket-slang puns.
- Yorker Hunters
- Maiden Over Mob
- Golden Duck Gang
- Silly Point Squad
- Slip Cordon Society
- Leg Before Wicked (an LBW pun)
- Run Out Rebels
- Dot Ball Dynasty
- Powerplay Pirates
- Third Man Society
- Boundary Breakers
- Nightwatch Crew (after the nightwatchman)
Self-deprecating names for casual leagues. Googly Eyes, Stumped Lions, and The Tail-Enders.
Office-league names. Reply-All Rangers or Run Rate Review.
Quick tips
- Keep it to two or three words. It has to fit on a scorecard.
- Make it easy to say. Commentators and scorers will repeat it hundreds of times.
- Avoid names that mirror real franchises if you plan on merch or a public league.
- Make sure the whole league can enjoy it. Jokes about specific players or rivals often backfire.
FAQ
How many teams play in the IPL?
Ten franchises play in the IPL, according to a standard list of current teams. The league has also had teams that stopped playing, such as Deccan Chargers and Kochi Tuskers Kerala.
Why did RCB change its name to Bengaluru?
To match the city’s official name. Bangalore was officially renamed Bengaluru in 2014, and the franchise adopted the new spelling in March 2024.
What was Delhi Capitals called before?
Delhi Daredevils. The rename came ahead of the 2019 season, alongside a change in ownership structure.
Can I use a name like “Super Kings” for my local team?
In a casual league, yes. If you’re printing merchandise or entering a registered competition, pick something original, since famous names and logos belong to real franchises.
Why do some teams share name words like “Kings” or “Royals”?
Often because the same owner group runs teams in different leagues. The CPL’s 2021 rebrands of its Barbados and St Lucia sides were a direct result of owners that also run IPL teams.
Is the PSL one of the “premier leagues”?
Not by name, since it’s the Pakistan Super League. People use “premier league” loosely, so it’s worth covering anyway.
How should I name an all-women’s cricket team?
Use the same patterns. A place plus a strong word works for anyone, and the team should choose the name together.
Conclusion
Cricket premier league team names are built from a place plus a strong word, but they’re not fixed: owners, cities, and rebrands keep moving them. For current teams, confirm the spelling on the official league site, especially for newer franchises like the PSL’s eighth team.
