Two new teams thicken IPL plot

Dubai: The fourth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2011 will be a bigger event following the addition of two new teams, IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi said in Chennai yesterday.

Kochi in Kerala and Pune in Maharashtra will be the homes of the new franchises. Their inclusion will increase the number of matches, bring in more sponsors and adds more interest.

After a global tender, Sahara India, sponsors of Indian cricket teams in the last decade, and the Rendezvous Sports World consortium emerged winners.

The Sahara Group topped the five bids with a whopping $370 million (about Dh1.359 billion), while Rendezvous came second at $333 million (about Dh1.222 billion).

With 10 teams next year's IPL will have 94 games in the present format, where eight teams are currently playing 60 matches. The new teams will take part in the auction, planned for July, where more than 400 cricketers will come under the hammer.

Have your say
Are there too many teams in the IPL? Will the league change the world order in cricket?