Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals return to IPL but at cost of Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiant

After serving their respective 2-year bans for their involvement in the betting scandal, the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals are set to return to action in 2018 for season 11 of the Indian Premier League. However, the number of teams participating in the tournament will stay at 8 teams. the reason for this is that the contracts for the Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiant will expire after the current season. According to Keshav Bansal, “The contract states that the two new teams Pune and Gujarat will go out, so that’s the fact of the matter. When we bought the team, it was very clear that we will be buying it only for two years and after two years, these two teams will go out and the other two will come back, so that’s the way it is,”

It is unfortunate that there is no place in the tournament for 10 teams, but it is the way it is. There were rumours that IPL 11 could be a 10-team affair but Bansal indicated otherwise. Bansal also expressed his desire for both franchises to continue playing.

“For sure, the intention is there,” he said. “When we bought the team it was a different scenario, today it’s a different scenario, I’m quite attached to IPL personally and professionally both so I think the economics and all the other factors should be feasible, so given a chance we would love to (continue).”

IPL 2018 will possibly see brand new line ups as no team will be allowed to retain any players ahead of the auction.