The Indian Premier League has grown leaps and bounds over the last decade and a half. Be it financially, or cricket-wise, India’s T20 league has been a hit. The BCCI and the owners of participant franchises like CSK, MI, etcetera have made lots of profit due to the crowd and advertisements the matches pull.
Owing to the same, IPL has already spread its wings over the global T20 League market. Red Chillies Entertainment –the owner-company of KKR– was the first IPL banner to buy a franchise in a T20 League other than IPL. They bought CPL’s Trinbago Knight Riders back in 2016.
In the recent past, RR & PBKS have also owned a team each in the Caribbean Premier League while DC and Kolkata have acquired the rights to a UAE T20 league franchise each.
CSK, MI and others buy all the teams for South Africa’s upcoming T20 league
The informal auction for South Africa’s new T20 league has already been held. CSK, MI and RR, amongst a few other IPL franchises have bought all the six teams that’ll feature in the South African league, according to ESPN.
Chennai Super Kings Pvt. Ltd. made the highest bid at the auction table and own the rights for Johannesburg. Lucknow Super Giants have acquired the Durban team. Mumbai Indians’ parent company Reliance Industries have bought the Cape Town franchise while Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal owns Pretorian side from the RSA T20 league.
MI owners – Cape Town
CSK owners – Johannesburg
DC owners – Pretoria
LSG owners – Durban
SRH owners – Port Elizabeth
RR owners – PaarlThe likely venues for the 6 franchises in SA T20 league. (Source – Cricbuzz)
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 18, 2022
Sun TV Group (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals have bid successfully for the Gqeberha and Paarl franchise respectively.
The upcoming South Africa T20 league will take place in January 2023. CSA has scrapped their tour of Australia to accommodate the upcoming league which is their “top priority.”
South African former cricketer and captain, Graeme Smith will be the operational head of the T20 league.
“I’m deeply committed to South African cricket and happy to serve the game as best I can. I am excited by the opportunity to deliver the new league, which I believe will be an extremely competitive product,” Smith was quoted as saying.