IPL 2021 New Team: On the speculation surrounding a ninth team for the IPL 2021, for the first time one of the franchise owner has shared his views. KingsXI Punjab Co-owner Ness Wadia has declared that he would welcome the addition of the new franchise, ‘as long as it doesn’t hit existing teams financially’.
Wadia said, if BCCI decides to increase the number of teams, it clearly shows ever-increasing interest in the world’s biggest T20 league. According to Wadia, one should always welcome expansion but the interests of the existing franchises should also be kept in mind.
If the expansion doesn’t hit existing teams financially, all will welcome the same, Wadia told PTI.
IPL 2021 New Team : Adani & Goenka interested in owning the 9th IPL Team
As the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) contemplates expansion of IPL 2021, one thing is certain now that Ahmedabad city will be included in the IPL roaster before anyone else. The names of Lucknow / Kanpur, Pune will only come for discussion if the BCCI decides to increase more than 1 team for IPL 2021 or IPL 2022. The BCCI will call for Annual General Meeting (AGM) in December to finalize and ratify the way forward on the IPL expansion.
According to reports doing the rounds, Adani Group owned by Gautam Adani and RPSG owned by Sanjeev Goenka will be the biggest contenders for the 9th IPL team. Adani’s in past have openly declared their interest in owning the IPL team. With Ahmedabad now boasting of the biggest cricket stadium in the country, their interest will grow manifolds.
On the other hand, Goenka had owned IPL team in the past as an owner of Rising Pune Supergiants for two years and will surely throw their hat in the ring when BCCI comes out with tender.
Other than Adani and Goenka – South India’s top actor Mohanlal along with one of the big business house based out of Southern India is reportedly interested in owing the IPL team. He was recently seen in IPL 2020 in UAE hobnobbing with BCCI officials.
The BCCI is yet to officially announce how and when the tenders for the new team will be released. In case BCCI goes ahead with their plans, they will also have to have to prepare themselves for the Mega-Auctions (Full-fledged player auctions) for IPL 2021. According to the sources in BCCI, the board has now informed the teams that the decision in regard to the new team and Mega-Auctions will be taken by the 2nd week of Dec.
“Time constraints are there but the full auction will be in the interest of everyone. IPL Governing Council will formally decide on this in next 3-4 weeks and communicate to everyone concerned”, said the BCCI source.
IPL 2021 Full player auctions will bring in relief for teams like Chennai Super Kings
After the IPL 2020 debacle, one team which is desperate to rebuild itself that is Chennai Super Kings. For them having full player auction will be a welcome relief. Even MS Dhoni during the post-match interview after playing the last league game of IPL 2020 stated that rebuilding the team will depend on what decision BCCI takes for the next players auction.
“We have to wait and see what BCCI decide on the next season’s player auctions”, Dhoni had said in reply to CSK’s rebuilding plans for IPL 2021.
Not only CSK, but teams like Rajasthan Royals, KingsXI Punjab, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore according to a source also has indicated to the BCCI in informal discussion that they will welcome full player auctions for the next season.
InsideSport has learnt that the franchises are divided over the idea of having a mega auction for the next season. If CSK, SRH, RCB are in favor of Mega auctions, teams like Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians have settled squads and may resist the move.