RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka, his brother Sanjeev Goenka, chairman of RP-Sanjeev Goenka Group, and Videocon Industries Chairman Venugopal Dhoot are considering a bid for the two new teams that will replace Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals in the next edition of cricket’s popular Indian Premier League.
Harsh Goenka has already bought the tender documents from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is weighing the prospects of a bid for the right to operate and manage one of the two proposed new franchises, which will form part of the league in the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Confirming the development, Mr. Goenka told The Hindu , “We are evaluating our options.” Mr. Goenka is known for his love for cricket and has roped in cricketers Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma for bat endorsement deals for his CEAT brand.
Interestingly, Mr. Harsh Goenka’s younger brother Sanjeev Goenka is also reportedly eyeing a franchise in the lucrative T20 cricket tournament that continues to be popular despite spot-fixing and betting scandals. Sanjeev Goenka jointly owns ISL team Atletico de Kolkata, along with Harsh Neotia, Utsav Parekh and Sourav Ganguly. Spanish club Atletico Madrid also has a stake in the ISL team. Videocon’s Dhoot confirmed his interest in buying an IPL team.
“I have not seen the tender documents yet. But yes, we will bid for it,” Mr. Dhoot told The Hindu
