Ahmedabad and Lucknow awarded IPL franchises as BCCI announces successful bidders

The Indian Premier League will expand to 10 franchises in 2022, with each team playing seven home matches and seven away matches

Ahmedabad and Lucknow have been awarded IPL franchises ahead of the tournament’s expansion to 10 teams in 2022.

10 parties entered a bidding process at the Taj Dubai on October 25, with six cities – Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Cuttack, Dharamsala, Guwahati and Indore – available as team bases.

RPSG Ventures Ltd were the highest bidders, purchasing Lucknow (subject to definitive documentation) for 7,090 crores. Owner Sanjiv Goenka previously owned Rising Pune Supergiant.

Irelia Company Pte Ltd (CVC Capital Partners) purchased the Ahmedabad-based team for 5,625 crores.

The Glazers, who own Manchester United, were among the interested parties but were outbid.

^{Mumbai Indians are the most successful IPL franchise with five titles}

The two new franchises will enter the IPL from the 2022 season onwards. The 10-team tournament will have 74 matches, with each team playing seven home and seven away matches.

BCCI president, Sourav 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 and Irelia Company Pte Ltd for being the successful bidders. The IPL will now go to two new cities in India 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. True to IPL’s motto of ‘Where Talent Meets Opportunity’, the inclusion of two new teams will bring more domestic cricketers from our country to the global stage.

"The IPL is proving to be a wonderful instrument in globalising the game of cricket. I am keenly looking forward to IPL 2022."

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