IPL 8: Pune and Chennai return as venues; IPL 9 and 10 dates announced

Feb 10, 2015:
The IPL governing council announced that the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) stadium in Gahunje, Pune and the MA Chidambaram stadium situated in Chennai will return as venues in the Indian Premier League 2015. Both of the venues were not part of the previous IPL season due to different reasons.

The Pune franchisee was based in the Gahunje stadium for IPL 2012 and 2013. But when the franchisee was scrapped by the governing council, stadium was only used for domestic matches. While the MA Chidambaram stadium was not used in the last season of IPL due to 3 of its stands being demolished by the Chennai Municipal Authorities owing to legal issues. The Chennai Super Kings had to shift base to Ranchi for their matches.

The governing council also said that the Rajasthan Royals franchise have been given the Ahmedabad ground instead of Jaipur like last year, since the Rajasthan Cricket Association remains suspended by the BCCI. The Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai will host some games for the Rajasthan Royals franchise.

Both the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals franchise were cleared by the court to play in this season of IPL, but their faith still hangs in the balance as the court appointed 3 judge committee will give their verdict on whether these 2 franchisees should be suspended from the IPL due to match fixing confirmations on Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra, their respective officials and owner.

The Kings XI Punjab will play their home matches in the Pune stadium. They requested a change of venue due to low response of spectators in their primary ground in Mohali.

The IPL governing council also declared and confirmed the dates for the next two upcioming seasons of the IPL, 2016 and 2017 respectively. The 2016 edition will be played Apr 8-May 29 and  the 2017 edition is slated for Apr 5-May 21.

In addition to this, the IPL governing council also approved 2 deals of commercial interests. The internet and mobile rights of the IPL for the Indian subcontinent to Novi Digital Entertainment Pvt Ltd, which is a a owned subsidiary of Star India Pvt Limited, for a cumulative fee of Rs 302.2 crore [approximately $50 million] for coming 5 years. (Also read IPL 2015: Player Auction to be held on 16th February)

The marketing committee also welcomed the CEAT group as the strategic timeout sponsors. The tyre manufacturing company was given the rights for a cumulative fee of Rs 31.5 crore [approx. $5.25 million] for three seasons.