Payments still pending to McCullum, Jayawardene, Sreesanth, Hodge & others — Will Kochi Tuskers ever settle their dues?

Kochi: It has been fourteen years since the Indian Premier League (IPL) witnessed the brief appearance of Kochi Tuskers Kerala, but for many of the players who represented the side, a crucial chapter remains unfinished. Several cricketers who once lit up the tournament are now mentoring the next generation, some have retired, and only a few continue to play. Yet, the matter of their unpaid dues from that 2011 season still lingers unresolved.

While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) owes ₹538 crore to Kochi Tuskers’ former owners, the franchise itself owes crores to its former players. As per reports, only the first two instalments of the players’ fees were paid, with 35% of the agreed amount still pending.

Following an arbitration tribunal’s ruling, Rendezvous Sports World is entitled to ₹153.34 crore and Kochi Cricket Private Limited to ₹385.5 crore in compensation. These two entities are responsible for settling the outstanding payments to the players.

Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene, who captained the Kochi franchise, was the team’s most expensive signing at ₹6.80 crore. It is reported that over ₹2 crore is still due to him—excluding accumulated interest over the years. Current England head coach Brendon McCullum, signed for ₹2.15 crore, is still owed approximately ₹75 lakh.

Other notable names awaiting payment include former India interim head coach VVS Laxman, Gujarat Titans assistant coach Parthiv Patel, Australian batter Steve Smith, and Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Even local Kerala players like S. Sreesanth, Raiphi Vincent, Prasanth Padmanabhan, and Prashanth Parameswaran are among those left unpaid.

Back in 2013, Australian all-rounder Brad Hodge took to Twitter to highlight the issue, writing,

“The BCCI made ₹1,194 crore from IPL 2013. Surely, they can find the ₹82 lakh that Kochi owes me.”

In 2021, he followed up with another tweet, stating:

“Ten years on, those who played for Kochi Tuskers are still owed 35% of their payments. Is there any way the BCCI can recover this money?”

Former Indian pacer Sreesanth also addressed the issue in an online interview last year, reiterating that he too is yet to receive the balance of his IPL dues.

Despite the passage of time and several high-profile reminders, the question remains unanswered: when—if ever—will the players receive their rightful payments?