The Board of Control for Cricket in India also known as the BCCI confirmed that IPL 2021 will be the last season that the league will be played with eight teams. As confirmed by the BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal, IPL 2022 is set to have ten teams in the competition.
India’s cricket governing board is working to release the tender of the new franchises very soon according to Dhumal.
Arun Dhumal said, “Everybody is looking up to the IPL now; we believe it will be an exciting tournament in UAE. This would be the last season of IPL with eight teams. Surely there will be 10 teams next time. We are working on that.”
Dhumal refused to reveal more information regarding the finalization of the new teams. It has been reported that BCCI will be looking to release the tenders of the new franchises by the end of August, the new teams will be finalized by mid-October.
Another issue for the BCCI to address ahead of the release of the tenders will be the base price of the new franchises. It was earlier set to be Rs.1500 crores but with RedBird Capital Partners picking up a 15 per cent stake in Rajasthan Royals, the base price of the new franchises is set to go up.
When asked about the issue, a BCCI official said, “We have not discussed the base price for the new teams formally yet. IPL teams are a great investment and have given the initial investors great returns. My personal view is that it will be nothing less than 2000 Cr but I am again repeating myself that nothing formally has been discussed in the BCCI about the base price.”
The phase-2 of IPL 2021 is set to begin from 19th October in UAE with Chennai Super Kings is set to take on Mumbai Indians in the first game of the rescheduled tournament.