Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions won't get extension says, Rajeev Shukla

Despite their IPL heroic first season from the Gujarat Lions and in the second by the Rising Pune Supergiant, it is confirmed that they will not take part in the next season of the Indian Premier League. This decision does not come as a surprise with the return of the franchises Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals in the next season of the league.

If RPS and GL are to make a comeback, they might have to undergo the fresh bidding process and not through any extension in their current contract. The two banned franchises are set to make a comeback after the 2013 match-fixing case levied on the two franchises.

IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla made it clear that the agreement the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had signed with the two teams was for just two years and thus there is no chance of there being an extention even if the board opts to play the IPL with 10 teams next season onwards.

“No extension is being given to both the teams (RPS and Lions). Agreement was only for two years. Even if we make it a 10-team league, the two new teams would have to be freshly bid, so they (RPS and GL) are not being given any extension or anything,” Shukla said on Sunday.

The IPL Governing Council has decided to stick to the 8-team tournament format since a ten team tournament would increase the matches to 84, which would make the tournament boring and dull.

“Next year, as per SC order, the two (suspended) teams would be back. The issue of whether 8 or 10 teams will come up at the IPL GC meeting. So far the plan is to go ahead with 8 teams. A 10-team league has to be endorsed by the Governing Council,” he added.

All the players were supposed to go back into the auction pool after the 10-year cycle, but Shukla indicated that retention policy may still be considered since the players have already created the fan bases.

“We will have a mega auction but retention policy also needs to be decided. The mega auction is not going to take place immediately it will be just before next IPL, so we have enough time to decide.”

The IPL media rights, which was earlier sold for 10 years from now on will be given only for a span of five years starting from the next year.

“There was an assessment that we should not go for 10-year duration. After 5 years, we don’t know, what would be quantum of league? How big the league would be? The CoA was in agreement of everything. They were sitting together, each decision taken unanimously,” the Congress MP said.

The Member of Parliament further added that VIVO would no longer be the Title sponsors, starting from IPL 11 and it will be done through e-auction.

“The issue (of e-auction) has been discussed. The IPL staff has been told to talk to the experts. It’s a segregated tender (digital/broadcast/mobile) for different zones, so it becomes difficult. But the title sponsorship, there we have decided to go for e-auction. Vivo was there for 2 years and fresh auction will be held,” Shukla concluded.