A 2015 arbitral ruling ordering the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to pay $62.34 million (about ₹520 crore) to the owners of the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala IPL franchise has been maintained by the Bombay High Court. A protracted legal struggle resulting from the team’s contentious 2011 termination has come to an end with the ruling.
What took place?
After just one IPL season, the BCCI dismissed Kochi Tuskers Kerala, which was owned by Rendezvous Sports World. The board said that disagreements over the team’s ownership structure constituted a violation of the franchise agreement. The franchise owners, however, challenged the dismissal, and in 2012, the matter went to arbitration.
An arbitral panel decided in favour of the franchise in 2015, awarding $42 million in damages and $20.34 million in interest. The Bombay High Court has now rejected the appeal and fully enforced the award after BCCI contested the decision.
The Court’s Most Important Finding
“The arbitration award is valid, enforceable, and binding. The termination was not in accordance with the terms of the agreement,” the court ruled.
The Implications for BCCI
The cricket board now faces a hefty financial liability.
The ruling underscores the importance of contractual fairness in IPL operations.
The BCCI may still appeal to the Supreme Court, but the High Court’s decision sets a strong legal precedent.
Background: Kochi Tuskers Kerala
Debut Season: 2011
Base: Kerala’s Kochi
Performance: mid-table outcome
Important Players: Sreesanth, Brendon McCullum, and Mahela Jayawardene
Their abrupt withdrawal from the IPL sparked questions about the league’s franchise administration, governance, and transparency.
This ruling closes a crucial chapter in IPL history, reminding all stakeholders that professional sports leagues must operate within the bounds of law and fair process.
