IPL rules may bar Ganguly from making a comeback

Base price mars Sourav's comeback plans

Sourav is at the height of being unlucky. Just when there was a ray of hope of getting a chance to feature in the fourth season of the cash-rich Indian Premier League for the Kochi Tuskers Kerala, after being snubbed at the IPL players auction and a failed bid by Kochi to buy him out of the auction later, IPL injury replacement rules may shatter Dada as well as his numerous fans’ hopes. Sourav who was likely to make a comeback in the IPL for the Kochi team will have to stay out of the IPL as a player in all probability.

As per IPL rules, “a team can replace an injured player if he is out for an entire season and can only opt for someone with the same base price or lower.” After Steve Smith’s injury, he was ruled out of the whole IPL so Kochi was keen to get Sourav as a replacement for Smith. But Sourav’s base price seems to have marred his case for the comeback. Smith’s base price was $200,000 and Sourav’s was $400,000, Sourav can’t be a replacement for Smith.

It is noteworthy that Sourav’s base price was at $200,000 initially which he later raised to $400,000 in consultation with the BCCI. This inflation in base price was seen as a deterrent for teams to bid for Ganguly in the auction. It seems the same factor will prove to be the thorn in the flesh for the ‘Prince of Kolkata’.

All is not over for Sourav though. There are very bleak chances still left. If a player of base price of $400,000 gets injured in the future Sourav may get a look in. But it is painful for legendary players like Sourav to bank on such extra-ordinary circumstances for playing their favorite game.