Amount of money spent on new IPL franchises shows why cricket has become second most popular sport: Shane Warne

Former Australian cricketer Shane Warne was left awestruck after Ahmedabad and Lucknow were decided as the two new franchises for the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). On Monday, October 25, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) finalised the owners of the new IPL teams after the competitive bidding process in Dubai.

Even as RPSG Ventures Ltd. bought the Lucknow franchise for INR 7090 crores, Irelia Company Pte Ltd (CVC Capital Partners) bought the Ahmedabad team for a stunning INR 5625 crores. Going forward, the bidders need to complete the formalities as mentioned in the ITT document.

Warne, the all-time second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, called cricket the second most popular sport. He also had words of praise for Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president.

He took to Twitter and wrote, “Wow! Congratulations to both of the new franchise owners. Staggering amounts of money for each team & shows why cricket has become the 2nd most popular & biggest sport on the planet. $932 & $692 million dollars (USA). Well done to @SGanguly99 & everyone at the @BCCI on the @IPL.”

Shane Warne’s tweet

Wow ! Congratulations to both of the new franchise owners. Staggering amounts of money for each team & shows why cricket has become the 2nd most popular & biggest sport on the planet. $932 & $692 million dollars (USA). Well done to @SGanguly99 & everyone at the @BCCI on the @IPL https://t.co/pFkhKqv9ln

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) October 25, 2021

BCC president Ganguly said, “The BCCI is happy to welcome two new teams from the next season of the Indian Premier League. I would like to congratulate RPSG Ventures Ltd & Irelia Company Pte Ltd for being successful bidders. The IPL will now go to two new cities in India viz in Lucknow and Ahmedabad.”

“It is heartening to see the inclusion of two new teams at such a high valuation, and it reiterates the cricketing and financial strength of our cricket ecosystem,” he stated.

The BCCI has had a hectic year as far as the IPL is concerned. Back in May, the tournament had to be halted midway after the emergence of COVID-19 in the bio-secure bubbles. The IPL thereafter had to be shifted to the UAE.

On October 15, the IPL came to a close after Chennai Super Kings beat the Kolkata Knight Riders in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The 2022 IPL will comprise 10 teams with 74 matches to be played. Each team will play seven home and seven away matches.