The Indian Premier League (IPL) is among the most celebrated cricketing event across the globe and the BCCI is set to take the cash-rich tournament to a different level next year.
According to a TOI report, BCCI has finalised the blueprint for the 2022 edition of IPL. Apart from the player retention, mega auction, increments in salary purse and a fresh media rights tender, the highlight of the next season will be the addition of two franchises.
The report suggests that the Indian board has made up its mind to introduce two new franchises to the competition and a tender document for the same will be brought out in mid-August while the bids will be opened in mid-October, around the final of the second half of IPL 2021 in UAE.
Meanwhile, the business groups showing interest in the teams are Kolkata-based RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group; the Adani group from Ahmedabad; Aurobindo Pharma Ltd from Hyderabad and the Torrent Group that operates from Gujarat.
As per the report, the salary purse for the teams will be increased from INR 85 crore to INR 90 crore. Moreover, the amount will rise to INR 100 crore in the next three years. From this amount, teams will have to spend a minimum of 75%.
As far as the player retention is concerned – each franchise will be allowed to retain four players with the condition that either retain three Indians and one overseas player or two Indians and two overseas players.
It will be mandatory for the franchises to deduct the specified amounts from salary purse before the auction.
“Some players may like the idea of not wanting to be retained and will want to head into the auction pool. That’s because there’s an increase in the salary purse and two new teams are being added. So, there’ll be a rush to grab talent. Expect some leading Indian cricketers to forward their names for the auction," TOI quoted those tracking the developments.
As for the media rights tender, it will be done at the end of 2021. With March likely to be available from the 2023 IPL, it will help the BCCI to organise 90 plus matches between 10 teams. The media rights too are expected to increase by a minimum of 25%.
(With TOI inputs)
