Kings XI Punjab

So finally, it is happening, what was being rumored in hush-hush tones seems to be materializing. Preity Zinta is readying herself to bring her association with KXIP to an end, and who is stepping into the shoes? If the reports are to be believed, it would be Chelsea Club of England, who may buy the stake. It indeed is a contrasting simile, as the IPL owners were thinking about investing in English football clubs, and now one of the most famous English football clubs is coming forward to invest in cricket in India.

IPL is a big brand and has a great fan following so the international sports club owners indeed had to cast their light on this new development in sporting arena, where fan following and eyeballs are the biggest for any sporting event in the world.

Preity and Ness Wadia along with Burmans are going to tumble all the way laughing to the bank as the current stake of sale of the team is pegged at $250 million, i.e. the valuation of the team has increased more than 3 times in three seasons though the team’s fortunes may not have enhanced in the same proportions.

There are however lots of hiccups between the cup and the tea. BCCI has to approve the sale only then can it materialize. One thing is for sure if the band wagon of stake sales set rolling other teams could also follow suit to encash the valuations and teams that may follow the example of KXIP could be Kolkata Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers.

The stumbling block in stakes sale is the ongoing IT investigations as also the other probes that are being carried out against the IPL teams after the ugly spat between Lalit Modi and the BCCI officials, so the sale may not materialize so soon, but it would indeed happen in the near future.

The market is agog with the rumor that about 93% of the stake could be on offer, and if it happens, then one thing is for sure, the Kings XI Punjab would indeed undergo monumental make over and it could be a totally new team when the new season unravels.

It would not however mean that Preity Zinta would no more be the face of Kings XI Punjab, she would continue to be its brand ambassador and help the team’s image by using her star persona, dissociating herself from day-to-day affairs of the team and it could turn out to be blessing in disguise for everybody.

By: Suman Rai

Tags: Chelsea Club, Cricket, England, Indian Premier League, IPL, Kings XI Punjab, KXIP, Preity Zinta