Page 117 - IPL 2

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In Conversation with Dr. Vijay Mallya…

How did you think of getting into the IPL?

Cricket is a fantastic platform for promotion in India. The UB Group is well known for adopting new platforms and
formats such as the IPL to promote its wide range of market leading brands. Hence, the decision to bid for an IPL
team - as, such a platform, with wide spread visibility, does not present itself very often.

On an organizational level, what did you think of Season 1?

I personally believe that Season 1 was successful despite the inevitable teething problems that are expected from
an event of this size and scale. I strongly believe that Season 1 was more than successful as a foundation to creating
what the IPL stands for today.

You’ve built many successful brands. It must’ve hurt that the team finished 7th, not to mention all the criticism your
franchise faced for player selections.
I selected the RCB team in consultation with Rahul Dravid. I was criticised for assembling a test team rather than

a Twenty20 team. However, ironically, it was the so called Test players who took RCB into the finals of IPL 2. Other
players also branded as Test Players performed well for other IPL teams. The criticism, on initial team selection, was
therefore premature.

In sport, no matter how strong a team is in terms of player line-up, there is no guarantee of success. The so called

weakest line-up of the Rajasthan Royals actually won the trophy in IPL Season 1. Similarly, Deccan Chargers who
finished last in IPL 1 became the champions in IPL 2. The RCB result finishing 7th in IPL 1 was disappointing but we
fully redeemed ourselves by reaching the finals in IPL 2.

How did you react when you heard that the IPL was moving to SA?
I was, fortunately, a part of the BCCI meeting that took the decision to shift IPL 2 to SA. Clearly I wanted brand IPL
to be firmly rooted and any interruption would have been a big disadvantage. SA is a great cricketing country and

there was no doubt that a successful tournament could be staged.

Many people criticised the move to SA but it remains a fact that there are far more television viewers than live I was criticised for assembling a test team
stadium viewers. I was quite confident that television viewership and the enhancement of the IPL brand would not rather than a Twenty20 team. However,
suffer.
ironically, it was the so called Test players

Team owners expressed concerns about the financial economics of relocating to SA but all of us were assured by the who took RCB into the finals of IPL 2.
IPL governing council that our financial interest would be fully protected
DR. VIJAY MALLYA
Were you surprised by how emphatic the response was in South Africa?
I was surprised at the over-whelming response in SA whilst I was always confident of basic support. Today, the “
South African’s have, perhaps become the largest overseas fans and followers of the IPL.

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