Adar Poonawala also in race for IPL Pune team

As bidding day nears, Serum Institute honcho says he's game

With the buzz around the bidding for the IPL Pune team hotting up as Sunday draws closer, there are some fresh names that have been added to the list of wannabe owners.

Even after the original bidding day proved to be a damp squib because the exercise was postponed and a revision of tender documents undertaken, there are biggies who are still interested in owning the Pune IPL team.

Venugopal Dhoot, chairperson of Videocon and who is already in the race, said Adar Poonawala, executive director (operations), Serum Institute of India, is also part of the consortium that will be bidding for the Pune IPL on Sunday.

"We are the only two consortiums bidding for Pune IPL. Sunday will decide our fate," said Dhoot.

Confirming the development, Poonawala told Mid Day, "I am quite interested in owning Pune IPL. But with the new set of eligibility criteria, we will have to wait and watch on the bidding day."

Even though there are other prominent names who will be part of the consortium with Poonawala, he refused to divulge these names.

"I am not sure whether they would like to be named right now," he said.

But sources say a member of the Bajaj family is also part of the consortium.

What has got Poonawala interested in owning an IPL team?

"I am into horse racing and love Formula 1. But it will be fun to be part of IPL. Maybe we might get some mileage for the company," said Poonawala.