Bombay High Court Upholds ₹538 Crore Compensation for Kochi Tuskers Kerala
Court Ruling on BCCI Compensation
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has confirmed an arbitration ruling that mandates the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to compensate ₹538 crore to the Kochi Tuskers Kerala, a former franchise of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Kochi Tuskers were removed from the IPL following the 2011 season due to alleged contract violations. Subsequently, the franchise owners initiated legal proceedings, resulting in the arbitration decision.
Details of the Dispute
Justice R.I. Chagla of the Bombay High Court rejected the BCCI's challenge against the arbitration ruling. The Kochi Tuskers were expelled in September 2011 for not providing the required annual bank guarantee of ₹156 crore, which constituted a breach of their agreement with the BCCI.
BCCI's Controversial Decision
BCCI vs Kochi Tuskers
The decision to terminate the Kochi franchise by then-BCCI president Shashank Manohar faced internal dissent within the BCCI. Some members proposed that the team should be allowed to continue in the IPL to avoid the compensation payment, but Manohar chose to ignore this suggestion.
Legal Proceedings and Outcomes
The Rendezvous Consortium, which owned the Kochi Tuskers, sought arbitration after the BCCI's unilateral action to cash in on the ₹156 crore bank guarantee provided for IPL participation. Despite the BCCI granting the franchise a six-month period to submit a new guarantee, the Kochi Tuskers declined, resulting in their expulsion in September 2011.
Kochi Tuskers' Brief IPL History
The IPL, which commenced in 2008 with eight teams, expanded by adding two franchises in 2011: Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Pune Warriors India. The Kochi franchise, owned by the Rendezvous Consortium, played only one season, finishing in eighth place, while the Pune Warriors participated for two additional seasons before being terminated for contract violations.
Legacy of the Kochi Tuskers
Since 2014, the IPL has returned to eight teams. The Kochi Tuskers featured notable players such as Brendon McCullum, Mahela Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan, S. Sreesanth, and Brad Hodge. Their home ground was the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, which currently serves as a football venue for Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League.