The Delhi Capitals’ (DC) parent company, GMR Group, is rapidly expanding its global footprint in franchise cricket. After securing a spot in England’s The Hundred through a possible acquisition of Southern Brave, the group is now setting its sights on Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL).
According to Cricbuzz, the GMR officials are in discussions with Cricket New South Wales (CNSW) for a potential partnership that could pave the way for their entry into the Big Bash League (BBL). We are amidst the 14th season of the BBL, where both the Sydney Thunder (2nd) and Sydney Sixers (1st) are looking strong.
Delhi Capitals, a supernova suddenly?
Having already established teams in the UAE’s ILT20 (Dubai Capitals), South Africa’s SA20 (Pretoria Capitals), the USA’s MLC (Seattle Orcas), and now England (Hampshire), the GMR Group seems keen to make their presence felt in both hemispheres. GMR Group in Talks with
Formal talks between GMR representatives and CNSW are expected to take place during the ongoing India-Australia Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Kiran Kumar Grandhi, owner of the GMR Group, is expected to advance these discussions upon his arrival in Sydney. GMR officials were already spotted at the SCG during the second day’s play of the Test, and Grandhi is set to make an appearance on day three.
IPL teams in BBL soon?
CNSW has a history of exploring partnerships with IPL franchises. A few years ago, they approached another IPL team to help manage Sydney Thunder in the BBL. With Sydney Sixers being CNSW’s primary team, there is potential for collaboration in the use of Cricket Central, their high-performance facility in Silverwater.
While Cricket Australia (CA) has not yet embraced the privatisation model for the BBL, the talks with CNSW suggest a different approach to involving IPL franchises in Australian cricket. Led by CNSW CEO Lee Germon and possibly involving chairman John Knox, these discussions could mark the beginning of a massive shift in the BBL’s future. Whether GMR will buy into an existing team or form a new partnership remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the globalisation of IPL teams across every league is inexorable. Like in SA20, BBL and the Hundred could be the destinations for IPL to build their eco-system.
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