Article first published as Indian Cricket: The IPL Stakes on Technorati.

The Sahara Group, main sponsor of Indian Cricket for 11 years, suddenly decided to withdraw sponsorship and withdraw also from the Indian Premiere League (IPL) just before the Players’ Auction extravaganza on February 4, 2012 for IPL season five. Long standing disagreement with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the BCCI’s arrogant behavior had been cited as the main reasons for this ‘emotional’ decision.

A hue and cry followed across the country and raged on with the media playing a crucial role. It signified a huge loss of money for Indian cricket and also for the cash-rich BCCI. While Sahara Group said new sponsors could very well be arranged very soon by the Board the BCCI kept silent till a written communication was received. Then the hard negotiations started between the two Indian business giants.

Of course, the imprint of Sahara on the uniforms of the Indian cricket team had been accepted as a symbol of national spirit and even patriotism whenever India played against a rival cricketing nation. Sahara had become synonymous with the game of cricket in India. But what were the actual stakes involved?

Most significantly, Sahara withdrew from the IPL too leaving its franchisee Pune Warriors without an owner. The real bone of contention was the fat price of the ailing Yuvraj Singh. Sahara Group wanted that money to be put into its Auction Purse for reinvestment in buying players. There were several other reasons most of which related to the IPL only.

After days of negotiations the BCCI and Sahara reached an agreement on February 16, 2012 with the BCCI agreeing to all the IPL related demands that it rejected earlier as violation of the rule-book. Maybe the BCCI had been extra cautious after the irregularities done by Lalit Modi, the founder-commissioner of the IPL, who was later sacked in 2010. But how could it put the huge IPL stakes at stake? Those stakes finally prevailed over and the rule-book was discarded once again for business and money.

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We have been used to beholding ‘Sahara India’ on the bluish uniforms of Indian cricketers in one-day and T20 games for over a decade now. It has almost acquired a patriotic fervor when Team India plays against international teams. Now, you shall not behold any more! Sahara has decided today to dissociate from cricket sponsorship after a series of disagreements with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It is poised to aggravate Indian cricket which is already on a low after the Indian team’s disastrous overseas tours. Most significantly, it means a huge loss of money for the cash rich BCCI.

Yesterday, India did end its seven-month long win-less overseas records by defeating Australia by 8 wickets in the second T20 match played in Melbourne. For a change, Indian players were charged up in the field after losing the toss and put in to field first. They effected as many as four run-outs and one stumping that reduced Australia to 131 all out. Ravindra Jadeja excelled both in fielding and bowling bagging the man of the match award. Vinay Kumar too bowled well capturing two wickets. With Gambhir’s unbeaten half century and skipper Dhoni coming at number four India won emphatically, though hiccuping their way at the end to score the final run to win.

In today’s Indian Premiere League—Version 5 (IPL-V) auction or rather player-shopping super market Jadeja got sold for a huge $2 million. Incidentally, Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings bought after a tie. Vinay Kumar too got sold for a big price. Was yesterday’s match a dress rehearsal for today’s IPL player-shopping? You see, politics and big money in cricket make us a bit cynical! We start doubting anything that happens in cricket. We cannot help it!

Just before the auction Sahara announced its decision withdrawing from sponsorship including IPL stakes and ownership of its team the Pune Warriors. The last bone of contention between BCCI and Sahara was medically unfit Yuvraj Singh. Sahara said they cared for Yuvraj giving him the full year’s fee to get well and requested BCCI to allow them to reinvest Yuvraj’s price in its shopping kitty. Like in many earlier occasions this time too the BCCI quoted the rule book and refused. There have been several instances of breaking rules by the same BCCI in previous IPL versions, Sahara alleged. Finally, calling it an emotional decision they said that the arrogant Board did not ever recognize their commitment to Indian cricket. Refusing to react the stoic BCCI said they were waiting for written communication from Sahara before deciding its next course of action.