Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to include two more teams in the coming Indian Premier League (IPL) edition which the total number of teams will become 10 next year. In the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) on December 24, the board will discuss the expansion of the cash-rich league.
The addition of the teams will help the Indian board to make it up for the loss because of the COVID-19. But the BCCI will have to plan a lot before considering the expansion because the next edition of the IPL is only four months away.
The Ahmedabad-based Adani Group, which lost out in the bidding war during the 2011 expansion, is known to have expressed interest again, with the hope of making the newly renovated Motera Stadium (which boasts of seating 110,000 spectators) their home. So have the RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, which ran the Rising Pune Supergiant franchise for two years (2016-17).
“I would be surprised if the valuation of the new franchise, whenever it comes on board, is anything less than Rs 300-400 crores per year,” said a former BCCI official, familiar with the ongoing developments.
BCCI to discuss having 10 teams in IPL’s next addition:
In the 2011 edition, 10 teams featured in the cash-rich league, but they could not survive for long. Kochi Tuskers and Pune Warriors were added to the roster after their owners agreed to pay Rs 170 crore and Rs 150 crore per year, respectively. But Kochi was terminated after their only season in 2011 and Pune lasted until 2013.
The inclusion of teams will also mean the league will take more days from the calendar for its competition which might also affect the international schedule. According to the source, BCCI would use its good term to ask for more days off for the overseas players.
“It would mean finding more days at the cost of international cricket. BCCI will try and use it’s good relations with ICC member boards,” said a BCCI source.
Meanwhile, the IPL 2020 ended in early November after Mumbai Indians lifted the title. The league had to go through several difficulties in the coronavirus halted year.