Gujarat Lions was never meant to be permanent. The franchise was created as a temporary replacement for Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals after both were suspended from the IPL following the 2013 spot-fixing scandal, and it existed for exactly two seasons, 2016 and 2017.
The team was owned by Intex Technologies, an Indian consumer electronics company, and led by Keshav Bansal, who at 24 years old became the youngest IPL franchise owner at the time. When the BCCI reinstated Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for the 2018 season, it declined to extend Gujarat Lions’ agreement, and the franchise was disbanded.
Quick Facts
| Team | Gujarat Lions (defunct) |
|---|---|
| Owner | Intex Technologies |
| Franchise Director | Keshav Bansal |
| Active Seasons | 2016-2017 only |
| Reason for Disbandment | Temporary replacement franchise, ended when CSK and Rajasthan Royals returned in 2018 |
| Successor Gujarat Franchise | Gujarat Titans (2022-present, owned by CVC Capital Partners/Torrent Group) |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals suspended following a spot-fixing scandal |
| 2016 | Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiant launched as temporary replacement franchises; Intex Technologies wins the Gujarat franchise, with Keshav Bansal as director |
| 2017 | Gujarat Lions plays its second and final IPL season |
| 2018 | BCCI reinstates Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals and declines to extend Gujarat Lions’ franchise agreement, formally ending the team |
| 2022 | Gujarat gets a new, permanent IPL franchise, Gujarat Titans, owned by CVC Capital Partners and the Torrent Group — an entirely separate ownership group from Gujarat Lions |
Key Ownership Highlights
- Gujarat Lions was always designed as a stopgap franchise, not a permanent addition to the league, which is why its two-season run ended without controversy once the suspended teams returned.
- Keshav Bansal’s role as director made him one of the youngest team principals in IPL history at the time.
- Gujarat’s current IPL representation, Gujarat Titans, has no ownership connection to Gujarat Lions or Intex Technologies — it’s a completely separate franchise licensed years later under different owners.
FAQ
Who owned Gujarat Lions?
Intex Technologies owned the franchise, with Keshav Bansal serving as director.
Why did Gujarat Lions stop playing in the IPL?
It was always a temporary franchise, created to fill in for suspended teams Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. When those teams returned in 2018, Gujarat Lions’ agreement wasn’t renewed.
More ownership profiles
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