BCCI set to welcome Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals back to IPL
The BCCI is planning to bring back Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals into the IPL on the day they release the āInvitation To Tenderā (ITT) for the media rights. Both the franchises were suspended from the IPL for two seasons by the Supreme Court following the 2013 spot-fixing scandal.
CSK, reportedly, are making some grand plans around the franchise's massive fan base to mark their return after spending two years in exile. Speaking to the Times of India, an unnamed CSK official had said that MS Dhoni will go back to the Super Kings - a team that he had been associated with for eight successful years - immediately after the end of the 2017 edition.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals are discussing for a possible stake sale with a leading corporate and may play the 2018 edition onwards with a new (co) owner. The franchise, reportedly, even started working its way towards clearing up some internal concerns, including re-purchasing Suresh Chellaram's 49% share in the ownership structure to put an end to the past controversies.Ā
It has also been reported that a leading franchise from the north is discussing the possibility of selling some stake as well. "Talks have been going on for a while and due-diligence is on at the moment. If everything goes through smoothly, both parties will approach the BCCI for a final ratification and go ahead with the deal," TOI reported.