Could IPL 2021 Have 9 Teams? Adani Group, Sanjiv Goenka Group Reportedly Interested In Buying New Franchise

While the BCCI has not made any official statement over this buzzing development, a report in the Mumbai Mirror gave more than a hint or sorts that a ninth team could make its way in the next season of the IPL and named Adani Group and Sanjiv Goenka Group as the major parties which could be bidding for the new franchise.

IPL 2020,Mumbai Indians Vs Delhi Capitals. (Image: @DelhiCapitals/ twitter)

The fourteenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) scheduled to be held next year in India could be a much more grander affair with a strong likelihood of a ninth team being added to the marquee 8-team Indian T20 league fold. Speculations were rife soon after the culmination of the 2020 IPL finals in the United Arab Emirates with a report in a leading daily indicating that the Indian cricket board (BCCI) is contemplating adding a ninth franchise to the existing 8-team T20 league. While the BCCI has not made any official statement over this buzzing development in the Indian cricketing circles, a report in the Mumbai Mirror throws up more than a hint or sorts that a ninth team could make its way in the next season of the IPL and named Adani Group and Sanjiv Goenka Group as the major parties which could be bidding for the new franchise. In the recent years, Gujarat-based Adani Group have openly expressed their interest in owning an IPL team and with the state of art Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad having the biggest cricket stadium in the nation, they could be aggressive bidders in buying a new team in the IPL. Meanwhile, Sanjiv Goenka group have been part of the IPL fraternity, owning a team in the past, being owners of Rising Pune Supergiants for two seasons. Ever since the inception of the Indian Premier League over a decade back, there has been just the one season where 10 teams participated in the flagship T20 league. The 2011 edition of the IPL was a 10-team tournament with Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTR) and Pune Warriors (PW) being added in the league. The 2012 and 2013 seasons of the IPL had nine teams vying for top league honours. Since 2014 till the recently concluded IPL 13 in UAE, eight teams have been participating in every season. In 2016 and 2017, Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions had replaced Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. The former IPL champions returned to IPL in 2018.