IPL 2022: Time BCCI allows teams to play exhibition games overseas in off season, says Ness Wadia

The
IPL
emerged
as
a
global
brand
after
the
bidding
for
two
teams
last
month
fetched
more
than
USD
1.5
billion
and
attracted
bids
even
from
the
Manchester
United
owners
who
eventually
lost
out
to
RPSG
Group
and
CVC
capital
partners,
the
owners
of
Lucknow
and
Ahmedabad
franchise
respectively.

Speaking
to
PTI,
Wadia
is
not
surprised
by
the
massive
amounts
shelled
out
by
investors
to
enter
IPL.
He
also
said
constant
innovation
is
the
need
of
the
hour
in
any
business
and
he
is
confident
that
the
BCCI
will
continue
to
break
new
barriers.

Ahmedabad
IPL
Team:
Owner
Name,
Net
Worth,
Price,
Bidding
Amount
and
Other
Details

“The
BCCI
must
consider
having
off
season
matches
to
be
held
in
places
where
there
is
a
big
Indian
diaspora.
That
will
grow
the
IPL
even
more.
A
bunch
of
three
or
five
games
in
the
off
season
based
on
player
availability.

“Hypothetically,
allow
the
top
four
franchisees
every
year
to
play
a
few
games
in,
for
example,
Miami
or
in
Toronto
or
in
Singapore.
It
will
only
strengthen
what
already
is
a
strong
product,”
said
Wadia.

After
the
windfall
from
the
IPL
team
auction,
the
BCCI
could
pocket
double
of
the
USD
2.5
billion
it
earned
from
the
broadcasting
rights
in
the
previous
cycle.

The
2023-2027
cycle
could
fetch
as
much
USD
5
billion
and
Wadia
too
is
confident
of
the
IPL
attracting
that
number.

Lucknow
IPL
Team:
Owner
Name,
Net
Worth,
Price,
Bidding
Amount
and
Other
Details

About
the
two
teams
going
for
more
than
USD
1.5
billion,
Wadia
said
the
IPL
finally
got
its
due.

“I
don’t
think
the
numbers
are
mindboggling.
Sport
is
big
business
now.
It
is
a
good
investment.
The
league
truly
deserves
it.
These
are
serious
businessmen
we
are
talking
about.
They
invest
in
things
with
a
purpose.

“It
has
taken
us
14
years
to
reach
where
the
league
deserves
to
be.
I
am
happy
that
it
has
finally
happened.”

Asked
if
the
valuation
of
the
existing
franchise
has
also
gone
up
to
a
billion
USD
in
his
view,
Wadia
said:
“It
could
be
even
slightly
more.”

However,
Wadia
is
worried
about
the
health
of
Indian
players
who
have
been
playing
constantly
in
both
IPL
and
international
cricket
in
bio-bubbles.

“The
only
concern
is
about
physical
and
mental
fatigue
of
the
Indian
players
of
all
franchises,
they
have
been
in
bubbles
since
last
September.
Mental
fatigues
of
these
players
have
to
be
factored
in,”
he
added.