Indian Premier League - An Introduction
2008, marks the dawn of a new cricketing event in the country - Indian Premier League
- IPL (
Official Website).
The Indian Premier League
Early in the year we saw the who's who in India bidding for the franchise of 8 cricket
teams. Mukesh Ambani, Shahrukh Khan, Vijay Mallya, Preity Zinta were among the successful
bidders.
The bids for franchise of the teams grossed over Rs. 2800 crores, with Mukesh Ambani
paying the maximum (over Rs. 440 crores) for Mumbai and Emerging Media paying the
least (Rs. 268 crores) for Rajasthan.
|
|
Team |
Bidder |
Bid Value |
|
1. |
Mumbai |
Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries) |
Rs.447.6 crore |
|
2. |
Bangalore |
Dr. Vijay Mallya (UB Group) |
Rs.446.4 crore |
|
3. |
Hyderabad |
(Deccan Chronicle) |
Rs.428 crore |
|
4. |
Chennai |
(Indian Cements) |
Rs.364 crore |
|
5. |
Delhi |
(GMR Holdings) |
Rs.336 crore |
|
6. |
Punjab |
Preity Zinta et al |
Rs.304 crore |
|
7. |
Kolkata |
Shahrukh Khan et al |
Rs.300.36 crore |
|
8. |
Rajasthan |
(Emerging Media) |
Rs.268 crore |
Then came the much publicized bidding for the players for each of the teams. The
franchise owners bid in crores to get the right mix of players for their teams.
Captain of the Indian ODI and Test Match teams, Mahendra Singh Dhoni got the highest
bid - Rs. 6 crores, followed by Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds who was taken
for Rs. 5.4 crores
The eight teams are ready and their franchise owners have given them fancy names,
got them fancy colors and dresses.
|
|
Team |
Name of Team |
Official Websites |
|
1. |
Mumbai |
Indians |
Website |
|
2. |
Bangalore |
Royal Challengers |
Website |
|
3. |
Hyderabad |
Deccan Chargers |
Website |
|
4. |
Chennai |
Super Kings |
Website |
|
5. |
Delhi |
Daredevils |
Website |
|
6. |
Punjab |
Kings XI |
Website |
|
7. |
Kolkata |
Knight Riders |
Website |
|
8. |
Rajasthan |
Royals |
Website |
Starting 18 April 2008, the eight teams competed one-another in a tournament
that culminated on 1 June 2008.
Long before the commencement of the tournament several thousand crore rupees had
been put in for IPL, including the bid for television rights by Sony Television Network and title
sponsorship by DLF.
The Finals of the DLF IPL 2008 tournament was won by Rajasthan Royals.
The Indian Premier League had an excellent opening year. It proved to be a mega-blockbuster
event of the year so far wiping out all apprehensions that anybody had about its
success. Since the end of the tournament, people are now missing the evening round
session in front of the television.
The event has changed the way the country's most popular sport is regarded. It has
changed the valuations of the players.
Parents are now seriously contemplating on sports as a career for their children.
