MUMBAI, Jan 24: Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan and industrialist Mukesh Ambani won bids on Thursday to own teams in the star-studded Twenty20 Indian Premier League (IPL), the organisers said.

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya, film actress Preity Zinta and four companies also earned the right to own franchises for the IPL to be played across India in April-May.

The tournament, featuring eight franchised city-based teams drawn from a star cast of cricket’s top players, will be held over 44 days in 12 Indian cities from April 18, Modi said. Shahrukh will own the Kolkata team for the next 10 years, while Zinta got Mohali, Ambani has Mumbai and Mallya heads Bangalore.

Reliance’s Ambani paid the highest bid of 111.9 million dollars to bag the Mumbai team, Mallya secured Bangalore for 111.6 million, while Shahrukh got Kolkata for 75.09 million.

Each of the franchises will now take part in an auction for players next month.—AFP