Sanjiv Goenka's RPSG and CVC Capital win bids for new IPL teams

The RPSG Group won the bid for Lucknow at approximately Rs 7090 crores, while CVC Capital won Ahmedabad at approximately Rs 5200 crore.

Speaking to a section of media, Sanjiv Goenka, who previously owned the Rising Pune Supergiant, gave credit to his personal staff for winning the bid.

A lot of planning and calculation has gone into the bidding, he said.

As many as 10 parties participated in the bid to own the two new franchises in Dubai.

One the biggest football clubs Manchester United was also one amongst the bidders. Even Adani Group had placed bids to purchase a team.

To base their teams, the bidders were given the option of selecting from six centres, namely Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Cuttack, Dharamsala, Guwahati and Indore.

The IPL 2022 season will comprise ten teams and will have 74 matches, wherein each team will play 7 home and 7 away matches.

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said, "The BCCI is happy to welcome two new teams from the next season of the Indian Premier League. I would like to congratulate RPSG Ventures Ltd. & Irelia Company Pte Ltd for being the successful bidders. The IPL will now go to two new cities in India viz in Lucknow and Ahmedabad."

"It is heartening to see the inclusion of two new teams at such a high valuation, and it reiterates the cricketing and financial strength of our cricket ecosystem. True to IPL’s motto of ‘Where Talent Meets Opportunity’, the inclusion of two new teams will bring more domestic cricketers from our country to the global stage. The ITT process included two interested bidders from outside of India, which strongly emphasises the global appeal of the IPL as a sports property. The IPL is proving to be a wonderful instrument in globalising the game of cricket. I am keenly looking forward to IPL 2022," Ganguly added.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah said, "It is a momentous day for all of us and I formally welcome RPSG Ventures Ltd. and Irelia Company Pte Ltd. into the IPL fold. We had promised that IPL will be bigger and better from the 15th season and with Lucknow and Ahmedabad, we will take the league to different parts of India. The IPL has established gold standards for leagues across the world and remains a premium event on the sporting calendar as it has grown rapidly in a short span."

"Despite numerous challenges posed by COVID-19, the 13th and 14th seasons were completed, and the bids prove that interested parties have faith in BCCI and its hosting capabilities. I am thrilled for the people of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat as the long wait is over and they will now have their own IPL team. My best wishes to the two new teams," Shah said.

Brijesh Patel, Chairman, IPL said, "The level of interest among the interested parties prove that IPL is among the most sought-after sporting leagues in the world. We had bids from different parts of the world and from parties with diverse portfolios wanting to make a foray into the world of sports. I extend my heartiest congratulations to RPSG Ventures Ltd. and Irelia Company Pte Ltd. for securing the rights to operate the two teams. We had a wonderful 14th season and the 2022 season will see a new beginning."