Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are reportedly interested in acquiring the new IPL teams. The bidding process for the two news teams is set to take place on October 25. Close to 15 companies have shown interest in acquiring these new teams which also involves foreign bidders.
The Glazer family, who owns and runs the Premier League club Manchester United are also said to be in the race. The BCCI had floated the tender (ITT) to own the rights to run the two newly formed IPL teams. The deadline set by the governing body of the IPL was October 20. The new teams will be announced on October 25, a day after the India-Pakistan clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE.
With the date to announce the new team’s edges closer, the race to acquire those new teams is heating up. As per the reports, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone could add to the Bollywood influence in the IPL. Bollywood and IPL always had a great connection. Kolkata Knight Riders are co-owned by superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, while Preity Zinta has stakes in Punjab Kings.
According to the source “It is a close bid, we are expecting a fair and transparent process. The only hodgepodge could happen in the verification/elimination stage but it is unlikely BCCI will adopt unfair means to favour particular companies.”
It is also believed that cities like Ahmedabad and Lucknow are front runners to be named as the two news teams for the next season. BCCI, meanwhile, has shortlisted six cities – Ranchi, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Cuttak and Dharamshala.
Speaking of the successful Bollywood couple, Ranveer is the brand ambassador of the NBA and is also involved with the Premier League club Arsenal. Deepika comes from a sporting background, whose father Prakash Padukone is a former All-England Badminton Champion. The Bollywood actress has been appointed as the global brand ambassador of Adidas.Â