Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions, the two new franchises formed before IPL 2016, will make way for the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals next year.
The Gujarat Lions’ owner Keshav Bansal has confirmed that it was communicated to them that they will be buying the team only for a period of two years. The suspended teams of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals will make their way back into the tournament thereafter.
“The contract states that the two new teams Pune and Gujarat will go out, so that’s the fact of the matter. When we bought the team, it was very clear that we will be buying it only for two years and after two years, these two teams will go out and the other two will come back, so that’s the way it is,” Bansal told Cricbuzz.
Also, there were rumours that in IPL 2018 there will be ten teams after Chennai and Rajasthan sides make a comeback. However, Bansal made it clear that the current contract won’t allow them to feature beyond this season, although given the choice they would love to continue participating in the tournament.
There are reports that Rajasthan Royals might return with new co-owners by their side and are in talks with a leading corporate to stake a claim in the team.
So the teams featuring in IPL 2018 are:
1.) Chennai Super Kings
2.) Kolkata Knight Riders
3.) Mumbai Indians
4.) Rajasthan Royals
5.) Sunrisers Hyderabad
6.) Delhi Daredevils
7.) Kings XI Punjab
8.) Royal Challengers Bangalore
