The Bombay High Court has reaffirmed an arbitration award that has significant financial and symbolic implications for Indian cricket. In a verdict that dates back to a decade-old dispute, the court upheld a 2015 arbitration decision in favor of Kochi Tuskers Kerala—a now-defunct franchise from the Indian Premier League (IPL)—and directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to pay ₹538 crore in damages.
The judgment was passed by Justice RI Chagla, who dismissed the BCCI’s petition challenging the award. The High Court made it clear that it would not interfere with the arbitrator’s findings, setting a strong legal precedent for the sanctity of arbitration awards. As a result, High Court Says BCCI Must Pay ₹538 Crore to Kochi Tuskers, a development that may lead the cricketing body back to the Supreme Court.
Rafiq Dada, representing the BCCI, acknowledged that the verdict was a legal setback. “It is now up to the BCCI whether to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court. They have a window of six weeks to appeal,” Dada told Cricbuzz. The board has not ruled out further legal options.
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High Court Says BCCI Must Pay ₹538 Crore to Kochi Tuskers: Major Verdict That Shakes Indian Cricket
The roots of the case go back to 2011, when BCCI terminated the franchise agreement with Kochi Tuskers after the team failed to provide a required bank guarantee on time. The franchise had only participated in the IPL for one season and was owned by a consortium of companies under the Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL). Despite internal disputes, KCPL invoked arbitration in January 2012, claiming the BCCI wrongfully terminated the agreement.
The arbitrator ruled in their favor on June 22, 2015, awarding ₹153 crore plus 18% interest, which brought the total to ₹538 crore. However, BCCI challenged the award and the matter has been bouncing between courts since then. But now, High Court Says BCCI Must Pay ₹538 Crore to Kochi Tuskers, as Justice Chagla firmly dismissed the challenges raised by BCCI under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act.
In his 107-page ruling, Justice Chagla stated there were “no valid grounds” to interfere with the award. “There is no patent illegality that would justify this court stepping in,” he declared, allowing KCPL and RSW (Rendezvous Sports World) to withdraw the money deposited by BCCI after four weeks of the order’s upload.
Kochi Tuskers’ squad back in 2011 was quite star-studded, featuring international cricket greats like Mahela Jayawardene, Brendon McCullum, VVS Laxman, Steve Smith, and Ravindra Jadeja. Despite the strong lineup, the team finished eighth that season before it was abruptly disbanded. High Court Says BCCI Must Pay ₹538 Crore to Kochi Tuskers now shines a spotlight on the long-running legal battle and adds to BCCI’s legal liabilities.
The BCCI, when approached after the verdict, maintained a cautious tone. “We are reviewing the order and will consult with our legal team before taking the next step,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated. If they find sufficient grounds, the board may challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court.
High Court Says BCCI Must Pay ₹538 Crore to Kochi Tuskers has created ripples within cricketing circles. Legal experts note that this judgment reinforces the authority of arbitration in sports contracts, warning governing bodies to be more diligent in their contractual obligations.
Kochi Tuskers Kerala was originally brought into the IPL in 2010 with a winning bid of USD 333 million. The consortium was composed of multiple firms, with Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) as a major stakeholder. The issues began when KCPL sought a reduction in franchise fees due to a change in the number of IPL matches, a request that was denied by BCCI. The subsequent delay in furnishing the bank guarantee gave BCCI the grounds to terminate the agreement.
After years of legal back-and-forth, the Bombay High Court’s latest ruling could mark the final chapter in this saga—unless the Supreme Court steps in. For now, what remains clear is that High Court Says BCCI Must Pay ₹538 Crore to Kochi Tuskers, a line that will be remembered both in courtrooms and in cricketing boardrooms.