Don't have a problem with Modi: Pooja Gulati

Exclusive interview with Pooja Gulati, co-owner of Kochi IPL team, to find out the truth behind all the chaos and controversy

Exclusive interview with Pooja Gulati, co-owner of Kochi IPL team, to find out the truth behind all the chaos and controversy

The Indian Premier League is making news and cricket has very little to do with it. Controversies, allegations

Trouble brewing Pooja Gulati

and counter-allegations, clash of personalities-it's all there.
Pooja Gulati, Director, Rendezvous Sports World Pvt Ltd, which owns the Kochi IPL team, speaks exclusively to MiD DAY about her franchise, which is in the eye of the storm.
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Owning an IPL team, how did that idea come about?
Rendezvous Sports World (RSW)u00a0u00a0 is led by promoters who are supported by a group of investors from diverse business sectors. The common thread is a shared passion for cricket.

We are told that two more IPL editions would have to be staged before a team manages to break even. Then why did you want to invest in such a model?
The IPL governing body had set a minimum bid price of $ 250 million. Any bid above that reflected the belief the bidders had in the IPL franchise, its future growth potential and the abiding interest that India has for cricket.
Too much or too little is a judgment call. We believed in the potential benefits and returns and tailored our bid accordingly.
Also, it is a universal truth that the cost of entry for the pioneers is always lower. But they also bear the cost of developing the market. Today all the revenue streams are much more robust, the operations are three-year tested. These are benefits that the new franchises will benefit from. We are entering at a higher trajectory in the learning curve. We look at this franchise as a long term investment.

Tell us something about the Rendezvous team. Who are the stakeholders?
We are a group of friends and friends of friends, all cricket lovers, who got together some time ago. What we have in common is passion for the game. The stakeholders' information is a readily available on the Net

Did you feel aggrieved when your husband's name got dragged into the whole controversy? Who do you blame for the whole fiasco?
My husband is a Director in a Multinational Bank and has absolutely no role to play in this. I am extremely upset that he was dragged into all this nonsense. I have no clue as to who is behind all this but surely whosoever it is, is a crazy person.
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Tell us is Sunanda Pushkar a brand ambassador or a stakeholder in the group?
Sunanda is a stakeholder and a valuable constituent of our franchise. She is responsible for the management and administration of the franchise.

Do you have a problem with Lalit Modi?
Not at all.

Do you think that the whole controversy surrounding Sunanda is a non-issue and it is being utilised by the Modi camp just to deflect attention from real concerns?
For us there shouldn't be any issue with Sunanda. Unfortunately, it has been twisted out of proportion for reasons beyond our comprehension.

Do you believe that someone else is behind the entire controversy and Lalit Modi is merely the frontman?
We won the bid in a very fair & transparent manner, we are saddened by all the controversy around it and it has truly saddened us. We have full faith in the system and are believers of fair faith and have no other comment to make.