In a landmark ruling, the Bombay High Court has directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to pay a staggering INR 539 crore to Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL) and Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) over the controversial termination of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala IPL franchise.
This decision brings an end to a prolonged legal battle that stemmed from the Indian cricket board’s decision to axe the Kerala-based team from the Indian Premier League (IPL) back in 2011.
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Kochi Tuskers Kerala’s Short-Lived Journey
The Kochi Tuskers Kerala franchise made its IPL debut in 2011 amidst much fanfare. The franchise, jointly owned by KCPL and RSW, entered the league after winning a competitive bidding process in 2010 for approximately USD 33 million. Despite boasting a talented squad featuring names like Mahela Jayawardene, Brendon McCullum, Ravindra Jadeja, VVS Laxman, and Steve Smith, their inaugural season ended on a disappointing note, finishing eighth among ten competing teams.
However, off-field troubles overshadowed their on-field efforts. By September 2011, the BCCI terminated the team’s contract, citing the owners’ failure to provide a mandatory bank guarantee within the agreed time frame. This decision triggered a drawn-out legal tussle, culminating in arbitration proceedings and, eventually, the recent High Court judgment.
High Court Upholds Arbitral Awards
The Bombay High Court, on June 17, 2025, firmly upheld the arbitral awards passed in 2015 against the BCCI. Justice Riyaz I. Chagla, delivering a detailed 107-page judgment, dismissed the cricket board’s challenge to the earlier verdicts. The court’s stance was clear regarding its limited role in intervening in arbitration outcomes.
“The jurisdiction of this Court under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act is very limited,” Justice Chagla stated in his ruling. “BCCI’s endeavour to delve into the merits of the dispute is in teeth of the scope of the grounds contained in Section 34 of the Act. BCCI’s dissatisfaction as to the findings rendered in respect of the evidence and/or the merits cannot be a ground to assail the Award.“
Justice Chagla further emphasized that the arbitrator’s conclusion—holding the BCCI responsible for wrongfully invoking the bank guarantee—was well-founded and based on a correct evaluation of evidence. “The conclusion of the learned Arbitrator namely that BCCI had wrongfully invoked the bank guarantee which amounted to a repudiatory breach of the KCPL-FA would call for no interference under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act considering that this is based on a correct appreciation of the evidence on record.”
Financial Breakdown of the Verdict
As per the court’s directive, BCCI has been ordered to pay INR 385.50 crore to Kochi Cricket Private Limited and INR 153.34 crore to Rendezvous Sports World. Additionally, KCPL and RSW have been permitted to withdraw the amounts deposited by the BCCI, but only after a period of four weeks from the formal publication of the judgment.
“In view thereof, the Arbitration Petition No. 1752 of 2015 and Arbitration Petition No. 1753 of 2015 are devoid of merit and are accordingly dismissed. KCPL and RSW are permitted to withdraw the amounts deposited by BCCI after a period of four weeks from the uploading of this judgment and Order,” added Justice Chagla in his concluding remarks.
BCCI’s Next Move
While the ruling is a significant blow to the BCCI, the cricketing body has been granted six weeks to file an appeal. Whether the board will pursue further legal avenues remains to be seen, but for now, the Kochi Tuskers Kerala saga—one of the most controversial IPL franchise exits—seems to have reached its legal conclusion.
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Why was Kochi Tuskers Kerala terminated from the IPL?
The BCCI terminated Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011 after the franchise failed to provide a mandatory bank guarantee within the stipulated deadline, breaching the terms of their agreement.
How much compensation has the BCCI been ordered to pay?
The Bombay High Court directed BCCI to pay a total of INR 539 crore—INR 385.50 crore to Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL) and INR 153.34 crore to Rendezvous Sports World (RSW).
What did the Bombay High Court say about BCCI’s challenge?
The court rejected BCCI’s challenge, stating that its jurisdiction was limited and that the arbitrator’s findings were based on proper evaluation of evidence.
Can the BCCI appeal this decision?
Yes, the BCCI has been granted six weeks to file an appeal against the Bombay High Court’s ruling.
Who were the key players for Kochi Tuskers Kerala during their only IPL season?
The squad featured prominent players like Mahela Jayawardene, Brendon McCullum, Ravindra Jadeja, VVS Laxman, and Steve Smith during their 2011 IPL campaign.
