JSW Steel Group To Acquire An Indian Premier League Team

JSW Steel Chair Sajjan Jindal confirmed that his group is acquiring an Indian Premier League side but "stopped short of naming it amid a speculation that the team could be Royal Challengers Bangalore," which is owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, according to the PTI. Jindal said, "Cricket is the number one sport in our country so there is an idea to acquire a team ... an IPL team. But, I cannot comment which team would be." On a specific question of whether JSW Steel will "indeed buy RCB, Jindal neither denied nor confirmed it," saying "That depends on them (RCB)." The Bangalore franchise was bought by Mallya in '08 in the second highest bid for $111.6M. JSW Sports, a JSW Group wing, is owner of I-League side Bengaluru FC, led by India national football team captain Sunil Chhetri. Jindal said that it will also "focus on other sports like kabaddi and hockey" (PTI, 7/1).