5 cities that might get their own IPL franchise in IPL 2021

One of the most widely recognized cricket leagues, the Indian Premier League came to a thrilling end with the Mumbai Indians clinching their fifth IPL title. With the IPL 2020 done and dusted, the BCCI has considered adding a ninth franchise to the table. The ICC is likely to regain financial stability and hence plans to add a new franchise are in the making.

Here is a list of 5 potential cities that might get their own franchise next season:

1. Ahmedabad (Gujarat)

Ahmedabad, the Industrial Hub of India, is already planning to launch its own IPL franchise. It is clearly evident by the fact that they have completely renovated the Motera Cricket Stadium, hinting strongly at the city getting its own franchise. After the exit of the Gujarat Lions, it seems likely that Ahmedabad could be a new contender for the trophy next season.

2. Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)

If the sources are correct, some businessmen from the Kanpur-Lucknow area have tried contacting the BCCI regarding purchasing a new franchise for the upcoming IPL 2021 auction. If things go as per plan, we might see a new IPL team from Uttar Pradesh soon.

3. Pune (Maharashtra)

With Pune having already launched two IPL franchises: Pune Warriors India and Rising Pune Supergiants, we cannot see why the Rising Pune owner Sanjay Goenka would not want to try his luck in the cash-rich league again. Pune Warriors India turned out to be a flop. However Rising Pune Supergiants had proved to be a tough fighter, losing to MI in the final.

4. Ranchi (Jharkhand)

Only one name pops up in everyone’s mind when they hear about Ranchi-Mahendra Singh Dhoni. His influence and his aura, both on and off the pitch have made Ranchi the talk of the town for quite a while. People go crazy whenever a match is held in this state. With so much buzz around launching a new IPL franchise, this might just be the perfect opportunity for Ranchi to capture.

5. Kochi (Kerala)

Another city whose team has previously played in the IPL is Kochi. The Kochi Tuskers Kerala, launched in 2011 and led by Parthiv Patel, failed to make an impact as they finished 8th in the season. However, Kerala might be an underdog when it comes to hidden talent, and it is about time that the IPL invests in this state to nurture its cricketing talent. The businessmen from Kerala also need to step up and invest heavily in this sector, which could turn out to be the difference.

READ MORE Cricket articles here!