Match-fixing in IPL?: KKR under scanner

Kolkata Knight Riders has been hit by the match-fixing charge, after they lost a close encounter to Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Centurion on May 12. Kolkata scored a competitive 173 for 4 but lost by 6 wickets with just 4 balls remaining.

The team management left out the side's highest run-getter Brad Hodge from the match and the Australian batsman was seen in the hospitality box rather than the team dug-out during the game.

Meanwhile, IPL Chairman Lalit Modi confirmed that he'll look into the matter and investigate why Hodge was in the hospitality area. He said, "There is an anti-corruption unit. We will look into the TV footage and investigate about Hodge's presence in the hospitality box."

The incident comes even as IPL withdrew a controversial SMS game that sports minister MS Gill said encourages betting.

SRK is not selling KKR

But Knight Riders is back in news after reports emerged that SRK is in talks with three companies to sell his team and move out of the cricketainment business.
Speculation is rife that Khan is negotiating with Nokia, the Anil Ambani group and Sahara to dispose of his entire shareholding.

Shah Rukh however has denied the development. Shah Rukhs Public Relations agency said that the actor had spoken to television channels that he had a major investment in KKR and he was still emotionally attached to it.

A website quoted sources in Red Chillies Entertainment, KKRs holding company, saying, Shah Rukh Khan has been trying to sell a stake in KKR for some time now. But since most companies he approached also wanted management control, Khan is now talking to Nokia, Sahara, Anil Ambani and others to sell his entire shareholding.
Incidentally, Anil Ambani was interested in buying the Newcastle United football team. His brother and now business rival Mukesh Ambani owns the Mumbai Indians IPL team. Sahara

Indias communications director Abhijit Sarkar was quoted as saying: We have not been approached by Shah Rukh Khan yet. But if he does, we would be happy to buy the team.
D Shivakumar, vice-president and managing director (markets), Nokia India, sent a text message saying: Shah Rukh Khan will keep the team. Reliance Communications however declined to comment but mentioned that there had to something concrete on the table.

Shah Rukh had given a guarantee of 300 crores to the Indian cricket board to be paid over 10 years. However , as far as merchandising and business on KKR products are concerned , the firm has done well.

It is learnt that his costs trebled last year owing to interventions from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Cricket Association of Bengal.

KKR IPL’s real show stealers as Rajasthan Royals falter despite win

If you thought winning is everything, think again! It certainly is not everything in the IPL. A recent study shows that while the Rajasthan Royals won the Tournament’s first season last year, It was the Kolkata Knight riders who truly won peoples’ hearts. Even as the eight IPL franchisees gear up for the tourney’s curtailed second season in South Africa, here are some pointers on perhaps the single most important factor concerning them- building and consolidating on a loyal fan base.

A recent survey conducted by sports marketing firm Dentsu Sport titled Building Sports Fandom- available exclusively with ET- analyses the things that helped IPL teams click with fans in the first season.

Conducted among 2009 (two thousand and nine) internet users in 30 cities, the survey also lists the most effective teams in IPL-2008 on parameters like presence of international stars, team name recall and uniform color recall.

Further, it suggests that there are short-term factors (Human Factor, Percieved Energy) and long-term ones (Performance, Engagement) that franchisees need to stress on, in order to succeed in attaining the elusive- a sustainable, loyal fan-base.

Not surprisingly, while Kolkata Knight Riders did exceedingly well in terms of human factor and engagement with co-owner SRK and a bevy of bollywood celebrities supporting the team, the Bangalore Royal Challengers were high on human factor but scored low on the performance and engagement fronts.

Says Rajesh Aggarwal, president, Dentsu advertising India; "For long-term gains in terms of creating sport fandom, franchisees need to ensure on-field performance and audience involvement during and post the tournament. The latter can be achieved through effective merchandising, creating fan clubs, cheering squads et al. Team owners can not afford to leave supporters stranded after the two month tournament and need to engage them for the whole year."

The study concluded that respondents regarded Rajasthan Royals as the most effective team on all performance related parameters- League Standing, Win % age, net run rate, performance of top five players. Kolkata Knight Riders scored in engagement factors like celebrity promoting a team, owner branding, uniform recall and TRPs while Chennai Superkings were regarded by respondents as the most balanced team, one that fared well on most counts including the presence of local/regional players, captain recall of team.

But the real surprise was Hyderabad franchise Deccan Chargers, which the respondents rated highest on the Perceived Energy parameter. A majority of the respondents found the franchise’s name the most energetic and vibrant. That it also advertised extensively before and during the first season, helped the side that finished at the bottom of the table, performance-wise.

Respondents found teams Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians as average on all counts although Mumbai fared better than Delhi on all other counts barring performance. Winners Rajasthan Royals were found lagging in human factor and engagement, what with the lack of any big-ticket players ahead of the first season and restrained advertising to get the franchise noticed and talked-about. This, a clear indicator of the fact that winning is not all that it takes to be a success in the IPL.

Ishant denies supporting Buchanan on multiple captaincy

Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Ishant Sharma on Tuesday denied supporting KKR Cricket Manager John Buchanan`s multiple-captaincy idea, saying he favoured single leadership for his team in the Indian Premier League second season.

Ishant had been quoted as saying by a news channel that Buchanan`s multiple captaincy idea should be tried if KKR wants to improve its performance this season, but he denied the comments attributed to him.

"I have not said anything in support of the idea. It will be good for the team if we have only one captain. I don`t know how having four captains will work," Ishant said.

"I don`t know the team strategy. I will know only after I reach South Africa and meet my team members. So, I can`t say anything more, whatever is good for the team I am for it," said Ishant at the unveiling of KKR team apparel from Reebok, the official merchandise partner of the side, here.

Asked which one was more satisfying for him between the tour of Australia early last year and the historic series win in New Zealand recently, Ishant said, "In Australia I made my name, people came to know of Ishant the fast bowler. But the New Zealand tour was also a big thing as we won the series after 41 years."

Ishant also refused to pick his favourite for the IPL second season starting April 18 in South Africa.

"I can`t say which team is the favourite to win. It depends on the momentum of a team in the tournament. Keeping the winning momentum will be important," said the 20-year-old pacer who leaves for South Africa tomorrow.

Asked whose wicket he would want most to take in the IPL in South Africa, Ishant said, "There are lot many batsmen whose wicket I would want to take. But, Sachin Tendulkar`s would be something special. He is legend of the game."