Article:Sahara and Rendezvous Sports win IPL bids for Pune and Kochi

THE SAHARA group has purchased the Pune team and Rendezvous Sports purchased the Kochi team on Sunday March 21, for the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament. Sahara Group and Rendezvous Sport bought the Pune and Kochi teams for Rs 1702 crores and Rs 1533 crores respectively.

Five bidders took part in the final round of bidding for the two new team on Sunday in Mumbai. Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi made the announcement of the winner of bid for the two new teams of IPL 2010, Pune and Kochi. Currently Sahara India is the main sponsor the Indian cricket team.

In 2008, Mukesh Ambani, Vijay Mallaya, Shahrukh Khan including eight bidders bought the IPL teams. The two new teams will join the tournament in 2011, and the number of games will go up to 94, from the existing 60 if the current format of the game is retained.