By IANS,
Chennai : Sahara Group was the highest bidder at $370 million to bag Pune and Rendezvous Sports bid $333.33 million to get Kochi as the two new franchisees to make the Indian Premier League (IPL) a 10-team affair from the 2011 season.
Announcing the bid results here, IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi said the Sahara Group had the option of choosing from Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Pune as their home. The corporate from Lucknow picked Pune as it host city.
The consortium from Kerala, Rendezvous Group, decided on Kochi as its base.
The eight franchisees who have been part of the IPL in the last three years are: Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab.