Tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to change the owners of the Bengaluru team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). RCB have found the going tough in IPL 2024 as they are languishing at the bottom of the table with 2 points and a net run rate of -1.185 after losses in 6 out of 7 games.
Mahesh Bhupathi lashes out at RCB’s management
Bhupathi’s call comes in the wake of RCB’s dismal performance in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. The team, currently owned by United Spirits Limited, has faced a series of defeats, including a recent loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) where they failed to chase a target of 288 runs.
In a post on social media, Bhupathi expressed his disappointment and concern for the team, the sport, and its fans. He wrote, “For the sake of the sport, the IPL, the fans and even the players, I think BCCI needs to enforce the sale of RCB to a new owner who will care to build a sports franchise the way most of the other teams have done so.”
For the sake of the Sport , the IPL, the fans and even the players i think BCCI needs to enforce the Sale of RCB to a New owner who will care to build a sports franchise the way most of the other teams have done so. #tragic
— Mahesh Bhupathi (@Maheshbhupathi) April 15, 2024
Bhupathi’s statement reflects his belief that a change in ownership could potentially turn around the team’s fortunes. He suggests that a new owner who is invested in building a successful sports franchise could bring about the necessary changes to improve the team’s performance.
RCB’s current performance is indeed a far cry from their initial days when they had a strong lineup of players including the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Despite having some of the best players in the world, the team has been unable to secure the coveted IPL trophy in the past 17 seasons.