IPL Chair Says Rising Pune Supergiant, Gujarat Lions Will Not Get Extension For '18

Indian Premier League Chair Rajeev Shukla "made it clear" that Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions "will not get any extension" and if they come back in the '18 season, it "has to be through a fresh bidding process," according to the PTI. The two banned franchises -- Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals -- "are all set" to come back in the next edition of the league "having served two-year suspensions" for their involvement in the '13 "spot-fixing saga." Shukla said, "No extension is being given to both the teams (RPS and GL). Agreement was only for two years. Even if we make it a 10-team league, the two new teams would have to be freshly bid." The "general mood" of the IPL Governing Council is "to stay put with eight teams as a 10-team league would increase the number of matches to 84." All players were "supposed to go back into the auction pool after the 10-year cycle" but Shukla indicated "that retention policy may still be considered" (PTI, 5/7).