IPL 2021 is set to be the last year of the competition with eight teams. At the end of 2020, BCCI had given the nod to the addition of ten teams to the tournament from 2022 at the annual general meeting. The latest developments reported by PTI suggest that two teams will be finalised in May through a bidding process.
Over the weekend, one senior BCCI source told PTI, “The 10 team IPL will roll on from next year and the bidding process and finalisation of the new franchises will be completed by the month of May this year. Once the teams are finalised, they can start their operational work which takes considerable time.”
InsideSport also revealed that the base price for new teams is likely to be Rs 1500 crores. Ahmedabad was one of the cities reported to be in the mix for the new team, while BCCI made it clear in AGM that states without IPL teams will be given the opportunity in the race for two new franchises. Meanwhile, previous reports have also suggested that Adani and Goenka group of industries are interested in bidding for new teams.
At the end of IPL 2020, there was intense speculation about the addition of the ninth team in 2021. However, the small gap between two consecutive seasons probably forced BCCI to postpone plans of new teams to 2022. The addition of new teams will also require a mega auction which is going to take place next year.
Considering the success of IPL in the last 14 seasons, the base prices were going to be staggering for new teams. Moreover, only two teams are in the mix, so there will be no lack of suitors. If the reported base price is true, then new teams will be the most IPL franchises in history.