Picture Credit: Twitter
The BCCI on Monday completed the bidding process for the two new teams in the Indian Premier League who will be making their appearance with the forthcoming edition. While RPSG Ventures Ltd. won the bid for Lucknow team for INR 7090 crores, Ahmedabad team was successfully bought by the CVC Capital Partners for INR 5625 crores. BCCI shared the news through a press release after the end of bidding process in Dubai on Monday.
"The new franchises will participate in IPL from 2022 season onwards subject to the bidders completing the post-bid formalities as specified in the ITT document. The IPL 2022 season will comprise ten teams and will have 74 matches, wherein each team will play 7 home and 7 away matches," added the apex cricket body of India in its release.
As soon as the new teams and their owners were announced officially, the other IPL teams wasted no time in welcoming their new competitors as the tournament will now have 10 teams competing for the coveted trophy. While other franchises welcomes the two new teams quite normally with some good wishes on social media, Rajasthan Royals- champions of the inaugural IPL edition- took to Twitter to share a hilarious video to welcome the new teams. They used the title song of famous 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' serial with their different characters representing different IPL teams.
Watch the video here:
Meanwhile, five-time champions Mumbai Indians wrote: "Welcome to the #IPL family, Lucknow & Ahmedabad. #MumbaiIndians #OneFamily."
"Join us in welcoming the two new members of the IPL family! ಸ್ವಾಗತ, Ahmedabad and Lucknow!" wrote Royal Challengers Bangalore, while 2016 title winners SunRisers Hyderabad wrote, "Welcome Lucknow and Ahmedabad to the #IPL family! #OrangeArmy #OrangeOrNothing."
IPL is proving to be a wonderful instrument in globalising cricket: Ganguly
After the inclusion of the two teams, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said, "The BCCI is happy to welcome two new teams from the next season of the Indian Premier League. 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. The IPL is proving to be a wonderful instrument in globalising the game of cricket. I am keenly looking forward to IPL 2022."