Not part of bid, but Kochi’s IPL has my blessings: Tharoor

KOCHI/NEW DELHI - It’s cricket chatter on Shashi Tharoor’s twitter. Thrilled at Kochi bagging a team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a jubilant Tharoor clarified that he was not part of the bid but was pleased to give this venture his “encouragement and blessings”.

“I am NOT part of the bid but was pleased to give Rendezvous Sports World my encouragement & blessings. My interest is in transforming Kerala, Tharoor tweeted on the social networking site.

“Congratulations to all Kerala cricket lovers on news that 1 of the 2 new IPL teams will be based in Kochi, wrote Tharoor, a cricket buff and a co-author of a book on cricket.

“Cricket will inspire all Keralites,” he added.

Tharoor threw his support behind the franchisee, Rendezvous Sports World Ltd., to bid $333.33 million (Rs 1,533.33 crore) to get Kochi one of the two new IPL teams from the next season.

IPL chairman Lalit Modi has confirmed Minister of State for External Affairs Tharoor was the brain behind the bid.

“All I did on my part was to offer encouragement, blessings and expert advise when required to the bidders. Beyond that, I had no role to play. I understand it’s a business decision,” Tharoor told journalists in Kochi.

“IPL is an extremely valuable activity that is here to stay and grow. It will go a long way in terms of its popularity,” he said. “It will capture the spirit of the enthusiasm of the young and give young Keralites a team to identify with.”

“It will give them a passion of the sport which has worldwide recognition and certainly national significance,” he said.