Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) will be back for the 11th edition of Indian Premier League in 2018. The two franchises completed the two-year suspension imposed on them by the Supreme Court appointed Justice (Retd.) Lodha Committee.
CSK and RR were banned after some of their team owners were found indulging in betting. The two former champions were replaced by Rising Pune Supergiant and the Gujarat Lions in the eight-team championship for those two years.
The return of popular franchises has set the social media on a frenzy. The BCCI, too, welcomed them back into the league on Friday. Chennai Super Kings, especially, has been a hugely popular franchise led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coached by former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming.
It was the most successful team in the IPL and had won the title twice in succession in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, it had won the Champions League Twenty20 for the first time and repeated the feat in 2014.
“It is my privilege to welcome back our franchisees, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, into the 11th edition of the IPL.”
“We have had a strong working relationship with Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals and hope that we can continue to build upon the close ties that we have enjoyed in the past, as we move towards the next edition of the league,” said IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla.
Fresh auctions
With fresh auctions scheduled next year, it is to be seen whether Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions will continue to feature in the IPL. The BCCI though, has been keen on continuing with the current eight-team arrangement.
Also, in focus will be role of Dhoni in CSK. Dhoni, who has captained the side from the start, hasn't been enjoying the best of form. In his second season with Pune, he was replaced by Steve Smith as the captain.
Published 14 July 2017, 19:33 IST