It’s official! BCCI confirms the return of CSK & RR in IPL 2018, will replace these two teams

Also, to maximise the reach of IPL and make it more popular, the number of fan parks will be increased

By: Score Keepers |
May 2, 2017 5:27 pm

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 10 has been going on in its best possible way while here comes another big news regarding the eleventh season of this cash-rich tournament. As recently confirmed by the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) CEO Rahul Johri, the now-banned franchise – Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals – will be bak in IPL 2018. Both the teams are currently serving their two-year suspension as they failed to give financial-clearances in 2015.

As per a Dainik Jagran report, Johri has confirmed the comeback of CSK and RR in the eleventh season of IPL. He also added that the two teams – Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions – will not be a part of the tournament from 2018. Also, to maximise the reach of IPL and make it more popular, the number of fan parks will be increased.

In a statement released by the BCCI, the CEO stated,”The ban on Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals will be waived off next year. The Indian cricket board is no longer looking forward increasing the number of teams in the tournament. Hence, CSK and RR will replace RPS and GL in the next edition of the Indian Premier League.”

“Every IPL game is being watched by 20 Lakh people online, hence to increase the popularity of the tournament in small towns and cities, fan park will be created in such areas,” he added.

Apart from the comeback of these two most popular sides, it has also been also speculated that a fresh players auction will be conducted next year and there might be no provision to retain the players by any franchise. In such a case, it will be interesting to see whether CSK could get his former skipper MS Dhoni back or not.

Earlier, in 2015, both CSK and RR failed to present their financial details to the BCCI and hence, a ban was imposed on both the franchise for the years 2016 and 2017. In IPL 9, Harsh Goenka owned Rising Pune Supergiant and Keshav Bansal-owned Gujarat Lions replaced both the banned teams. MS Dhoni was appointed as the skipper of RPS while Suresh Raina was given the command of GL. However, in the current season, MS Dhoni was removed from his post and Steven Smith got the captaincy.