Representative image© BCCI
There has been a lot of speculation over who the franchises will be retaining ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction but not much has come out in the open when it comes to Gujarat Titans. The 2022 champions had a tough outing in IPL 2024 as they missed Mohammed Shami who was ruled out due to injury. The other thing that haunted them was the absence of Hardik Pandya who completed a sensational trade to Mumbai Indians. However, fans were left buzzing after a social media post from the franchise hinted at their potential retentions for IPL 2025. Gujarat Titans posted three pictures of Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan with a cryptic one-line caption. "All over the opponents like a Shub-Rash," the caption read.
All over the opponents like a Shub-Rash#AavaDe pic.twitter.com/Eb1ru2pRjG
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) October 23, 2024
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants are among the IPL franchises who have submitted bids to acquire teams in the English Cricket Board-run The Hundred, according to a report.
Good that you have cleared the rumours.
— GRIFFIN (@EMPEROROFFOREST) October 23, 2024
The GMR Group, recently named the new owner of Hampshire, and Avram Glazer, co-owner of Manchester United Football Club, also submitted bids before the ECB's October 18 deadline for potential investors, reported ESPNCricinfo.
Perfect time to post
— Arpit Sahu (@arpitsahu_08) October 23, 2024
Ending all masala
The ECB has invited bids for a 49 per cent stake in each of the eight franchises, with the board retaining majority control.
"Expressions of interest could be for all eight teams, which would be culled to four in the next step which will start in November when the investors get to meet the host counties of each Hundred franchise," stated the report.
"Following that, investors would need to prune their wishlist to four teams, as part of the second stage, which will then come down to two teams of which they would need to make their final choice." The ECB is aiming to finalise investors by early 2025 but is committed to a deliberate approach to avoid "underselling what it believes is a valuable product".
ECB chairman Richard Thompson has also mentioned the possibility of a "hybrid" ownership model, where some teams remain under ECB control while others are sold to private investors.
The report further says while several IPL franchises showed early interest, not all followed through with bids.
"Punjab Kings opted out, while there has been no confirmation on whether five-times IPL champions Chennai Super Kings and equity major CVC Capital Partners, which owns Gujarat Titans, have submitted bids," it added.
"Global sports investors INEOS, owned by Jim Ratcliffe, which owns a 27% stake in Manchester United and run the football club's operations wing, have also opted out of bidding." One of the main concerns for IPL franchises was whether they would be "happy being passive investors".
(With PTI inputs)