Cape Town, April 14 -- As franchise cricket continues to reshape the global sporting landscape, former South Africa captain Graeme Smith believes the Indian Premier League (IPL) remains the driving force behind the transformation.

Now serving as commissioner of SA20, Smith reflected on the sport's evolution in an interaction with Olympics.com, highlighting how T20 leagues have redefined cricket's commercial and competitive ecosystem.

Discussing the rise of franchise cricket, Smith credited the IPL as the catalyst for change.

"The IPL changed everything," Smith explained. "It showed how big franchise cricket could become commercially, in terms of fan engagement, and also in the quality of cricket being played. Every new league that has ...