Rajeev Shukla rules out return of Kochi Tuskers, says IPL-9 will be better than previous editions

IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla on Thursday ruled out the return of Kochi Tuskers in the IPL, and also said that as a brand, the IPL would be protected.

He said the coming season would be better than the previous editions despite of all the controversies that the league has been facing in the recent days.

"IPL as a brand will be protected. The league will continue and IPL-9 will be better than IPL-8 and previous editions. We are making all our efforts and that IPL should be a good product, a better product in the coming years," Shukla told ANI.

"A meeting of the league's Governing Council will be convened on July 19 in Mumbai where we will deliberate on the report. After that, a sub-group will be constituted to study the report and to decide the future course of action as to how the report should be implemented," he added.

He also said that the issues regarding the number of teams and the format of the tournament are being discussed by the committee and there are lot many suggestions and ideas and all of them are being put into consideration.

He also insisted that there is a lot of time still left for the tournament and before than the governing council will ensure that the tournament turns out to be more successful than the previous editions.

Talking about the interest of the players, he said, "Players' interest will be protected. We would not allow players to be in disadvantageous position. So, their interest will be protected and players need not to get worried."

In a landmark judgement, the Justice R.M Lodha committee found Chennai Super Kings (CSK) official Gurunath Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals (RR) co-owner Raj Kundra guilty, and imposed life suspensions on the duo.

The committee also suspended Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals from participating in the IPL for a period of two years.