MS Dhoni and Sahara group jointly buy Ranchi franchise of Hockey India League

Indian team cricket Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sahara Adventure Sports limited together buy new Ranchi franchise of the Hockey Indian League (HIL). They are now the co-owners of this franchise. Sahara India Pariwar, who is already owner of the Uttar Pradesh Wizards side in HIL whereas Dhoni, currently having the co-ownership of Chennai team in ISL.

The new Ranchi franchise will be known as ‘Ranchi Rays’ from third edition of HIL to be held in January-February next year. Dhoni also owns a motorsports team called Mahi Racing Team in partnership with film star Nagarjuna.

Speaking on owning the Ranchi Franchise of HIL, Dhoni said, “Today I am very happy to own the franchisee of Ranchi Team in the Hockey India League. I was always interested to do something for this region and I want to see also that hockey should be uplifted from the grass root level. I have got this franchisee with the support of Sahara India Pariwar, one of the prime promoter and patron of sports in India.”

“The performance of Ranchi team in the last two years has been very good. I was born and brought up in Ranchi so when this opportunity came to own the city’s hockey team, I didn’t think twice,” he said.

Ranchi Rhinos, the earlier franchise of the Ranchi based team and also the owner of the inaugural edition of the tournament was removed from the league, following a dispute between the co-owners (Patel—PS Group and Uniexcel Group) of the team.