Kochi in IPL Map.
Like it on Facebook, Tweet it or share this article on other bookmarking websites.
The dream of Kerala Cricket mad men also going to fulfill now. In fourth edition of DLF Indian Premier League ( DLF IPL ) next year like Chennai Super Kings and Bangalore Royal Challengers , Kochi will have its own team. Kerala people will sing “hurray’ in galleries for their own team. International players will wear the jersey of Kerala’s own I P L team soon.
As a surprise packet Kochi and Pune had joined the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the auction for the new teams held in Chennai on Sunday. Thus the next edition of I P L , IPL 2011 will feature 10 teams. The Rendezvous Sports World, a consortium of five companies, headed by the business magnet Mr. Shailendra Gaekwad had owned the Kochi I P L team with a bid of $333.3 million. That is about 1533.32 crore rupees. The Sahara Group won Pune with a $370 million bid. Thus the worth of the two new teams is more than the eight other teams of I P L put together !!! But the share of the two new franchises from the IPL revenue pool will be the same as the other eight teams in current IPL.
Rendezvous Sports World has to fight well to push back business giants like vedeocon , Adani Enterprises and Bollywood stars to own the Kochi I P L team. Rendezvous Sports World is a consortium of five companies. The franchise includes Parinee Developers, Anchor Art, Film Waves and Elite Company Director and Malayalee business man Mr. Vivek Venugopal. Minister of State for External Affairs Mr. Shashi Tharoor, had been a facilitator in getting the consortium for Kochi together. "He is a lover of the game and was involved in trying to put together a team for his state. But I think his role ends there." Said Lalit Modi.
Indian Medium Pacer hailing from Kochi Mr. S .Sreesanth reacted to the news that it was his dream to have an I P L team for Kerala. There are a number of good players in Kerala, but they get less chance to exhibit their talents and thereby to enter Indian team. By the introduction of Kochi I P L team many Kerala players will also get chance to play in I P L and there by to attract the attention of national selectors to get selection to various national cricket teams.
Sahara, Rendezvous Sports World, Adani Enterprises, VC Digital and a Pune-based consortium namely Amman Vohra were the groups qualified for bidding for the two teams.
"The bidding was extremely competitive. And I want to thank the bidders," said Lalit Modi ,the IPL commissioner . He added, "This shows the IPL is on an upward curve. There is no recession as far as the IPL is concerned."
The queen of Arabian sea Kochi was already in cricket map by conducting some international one day cricket matches at G C D A Stadium , Kaloor , Kochi. But Kochi got very less priority when the cricket tours of different countries scheduled in India. Now the home ground of Kochi I P L team will be this stadium and the success of the matches to be held here will open the eyes of authority to conduct more international matches in Kochi.
Kochi was continuously in news for a few days recently due to the ‘yes no ‘ state of smart city project of 1700 crore rupees. At the same time it got fame through a money carnival I P L team. Yes , Kochi is the second team in I P L with strongest economy.
There are eight teams in I P L at present. They are Delhi Dare Devils, Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians , Deccan Chargers , Chennai Super Kings and Bangalore Royal Challengers. By adding Kochi and Pune it will become 10 teams. Then the present 60 matches in total will rise to 94 matches per season. Kochi will have 9 home matches at Kochi . Since the Kerala Cricket Association is building a state-of-the-art stadium, Kochi will be offered some other home ground by the IPL till the construction concludes.
The Kochi team may be named Kerala Cobras or Kerala Tigers or Kerala Tuskers. It will begin to pad in I P L from 2011 onwards. Hope this will bring an all-round development to Kochi. During the home matches of Kochi , it will witness a non stop festival both in and out of the stadium like Bangalore , Kolkata and Delhi experience now.
The fame of ancient Kochi city will spread all over the world than earlier through I P L matches. About 140 countries telecast I P L matches directly. Definitely it will be a boost to the city especially in tourism and business fields. Government will also get benefit since 25% of I P L match profit goes to government treasury.
Still I have a personal fear and anxiety here. Kerala is well known for its football love. Youths are the real fans of soccer .But I P L may kill their interest in football. It may be diverted to cricket. The ultimate result will be Kerala team neither in cricket nor in football.