File picture of actress Archita and actor Sabyasachi cheering for Deccan Chargers in an IPL match

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 16: The platform of opportunity that the IPL offered to Odisha cricketers in the form of Deccan Chargers has suddenly disappeared. Uncertainty seems to have gripped the state’s cricketing fraternity with regards to the IPL, though the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), while terminating the Chargers’ contract, has decided to float a tender for a new team that could possibly be based out of Cuttack. It is one of the 10 cities shortlisted by the board as venue for the new franchise.

Odisha Cricket Association president Ranjib Biswal said he was hopeful that big companies in the state would come up to bid for a local team for the next IPL season. “Last time, we were among the top three bidders with one of the bids, which was for Cuttack, amounting to Rs 900 crore,” he said.

Another top cricket administrator of the state, who was not willing to be quoted, said: “The board has created a window of opportunity but no one knows if it will materialise or not. And if it does, when would that be.”

On the other hand, he said that Deccan Chargers was a flourishing franchisee and Odisha was its catchment area. The team had also adopted the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack as an alternative venue.

“The team had picked up all-rounder Biplab Samantaray from Odisha for the IPL earlier this year and he played one match. So, it was a lucrative opportunity for state cricketers, especially the young talents, to make it to the IPL,” the administrator said.

In the previous edition of the tournament, wicketkeeper-batsman Haldhar Das had played for the Chargers which had Hyderabad-based Odia boy Pragyan Ojha as one of its key players. For its last edition, the franchisee had also roped in Odia cinestars Archita and Sabyasachi as their brand ambassadors. All that is going to be missed now that the BCCI has nixed the Chargers.

“Whatever happened was beyond anyone’s control. Since I had signed the contract with the team this year, I hoped to be in the IPL loop for at least two more years. Now that the team is no longer there, we would have to perform really well in the upcoming Ranji Trophy to attract the attention of other teams in the tournament,” said Samantaray.

Batsman Paresh Patel said he was hopeful of other teams in the IPL picking up players from Odisha. “If that happens, it will be a new window of opportunity for the state players,” he said.

The IPL, especially the fact that a team in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh was one of the franchise holders, was an inspiration for state cricketers. This, in fact, spawned Odisha Premier League, which was organised last year with 10 teams in the fray. However, bad luck befell the tournament, which was put off this year following a series of vigilance raids against some of the franchise holders and promoters.

A senior cricket administrator said the entire cricketing fraternity of the state would be happy to promote a tournament on the lines of IPL but with “clean” franchise promoters. “We don’t want disputes anymore,” he said.