Deccan Chargers takes cue from Kochi Tuskers, eyes IPL comeback

New Delhi: Comeback stories are probably the most enduring ones in sporting lores. The Indian Premier League (IPL), which has seen the good, the bad and the ugly of cricket, is likely to have its share of comeback stories with erstwhile Deccan Chargers (DC) eyeing a return.

According to a report in the Times of India, Hyderabad-based franchise Deccan Chargers (DC) has seen the recent turn of events in the IPL, including Lodha committee’s verdict to ban both Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), and also that of Kochi Tuskers's favourable arbitration against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as welcome developments in their bid to stage a successful comeback in the league.

Chargers have already requested for a arbitration, to be handled by the retired Supreme Court Justice CK Thakkar.

The report quoted a Chargers source saying, "The final arbitration is likely to be held later this month. DC owners are confident of winning the arbitration and eventually returning to the IPL."

Chargers was one of the eight founding members of the IPL in 2008, and after finishing the inaugural season last, under Adam Gilchrist's leadership, won the second season in South Africa.

However, Chargers' IPL contract was terminated in 2012 for breach of terms. And since then, the city of Hyderabad has seen a new team in Sunrises Hyderabad.

"If the arbitrator rules in favour of the Chargers, the franchise could be tempted to float a team from a different city than Hyderabad (since the city already has an IPL team in Hyderbabad Sunrisers)," the report quoted another source.

Recently, Tuskers got a decision in their favour from court of arbitration, asking the Indian cricket board to pay Rs550 crores as compensation to the Kochi-based franchise for the termination in 2012. However, Tuskers has reportedly requested for a return in the cash-rich league instead.

Pune Warriors was another franchise which got terminated after falling out with the organisers of the league.