KOLKATA : Atletico de Kolkata owner Sanjiv Goenka is tipped to buy an Indian Premier League team as the IPL Governing Council is all set to announce the names of two new teams on Tuesday . Mr Sanjiv Goenka along with his brother – Harsh of RPG Group (CEAT Tyres) are amongst those who have also bought the document. Apart from Goenka’s , a Chennai based cement company have also bought the ITT ( Invitation To Tender ) document from the BCCI office . At least six corporates are vying to buy an IPL team . Two new teams of the Indian Premier League (IPL) are set to be announced after a meeting of the tournament’s governing council (GC) on Tuesday after Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended . According to sources , the BCCI is inviting bids for two new teams for a duration of two years.
Mr Sanjiv Goenka who co-owns the Indian Super League’s Kolkata franchise, Atletico de Kolkata, has tasted early success in his football foray with Atletico de Kolkata winning the inaugural ISL trophy . The business tycoon may now get into buying an Indian Premier League cricket franchisee. “Sports would be an important area of business for us as we go forward. We are looking beyond football. I am enjoying my stint in sports where ISL is growing in popularity and viewership. And you would see a greater presence from us,” Goenka said. While Goenka refused to confirm any of the rumours floating around about him joining hands with India’s ODI skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to acquire an IPLteam, he indicated group’s plans to venture into cricket .
Goenka owns about 30% stake in Atletico de Kolkata with balance distributed between partners like former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, Ambuja Neotia group head Harshavardhan Neotia and investor Utsav Parekh.
A sports holding company Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt Ltd owns the club franchisee which is the defending champion of the first season of the Indian Super League 2014. The move comes as Goenka’s recent investments in its flagship power business have suffered hiccups following slowdown in core sector and lack of demand for power.