If media claims are to be accepted, the Indian Premier League (IPL) would have a more Bollywood flavour in its ownership starting in 2022. According to reports, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are interested in purchasing one of the two new IPL clubs provided by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The Glazer family, who own Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo, has also purchased the tender papers for the new IPL franchises.
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The bidding process for the new IPL club will begin on Monday, October 25 in Dubai, one day after India’s T20 World Cup 2021 match against Pakistan. Since its beginning in 2008, the IPL has had its share of Bollywood glamour, with Preity Zinta and Shah Rukh Khan owning Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively.
Deepika Padukone is from a sports family, since her father, Prakash Padukone, was a former All-England badminton champion. Ranveer Singh, on the other hand, is a brand ambassador for the NBA, a prominent basketball league, as well as a supporter of EPL teams.
“The BCCI is not keen to give the rights to an off-shore company and will prefer Indian buyers but power equations can change the script dramatically,” a report in Outlook media read.
The star-studded bidding process is expected to include a number of companies from around the world. The BCCI had already extended the bidders’ deadline till Wednesday (October 20). The bidding results will be announced the day after the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup 2021 match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
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“Although it is a closed 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,” the report added.
