Top 5 of Indian Cricket set to be felicitated by BCCI at IPL 2017 ceremony

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, March 31: The ’Fab Five’ of Indian cricket i.e. legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag will be felicitated during the opening ceremony of the tenth edition of Indian Premier League, a decision over this was taken by the IPL Governing Council on Thursday (March 30).

RPS Full Squad for IPL 2017; Tournament Schedule

’The decision was taken at the GC meeting that five legends of Indian cricket -- Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag will be felicitated during the opening ceremony in Hyderabad on April 5,’ IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla told reporters after the completion of IPL GC meet.

Out of the five, four are former India captains. Laxman was the only cricketer to have never led the Indian side.

However, it was not known why former captain and Team India’s current head coach Anil Kumble, an equal contributor along with these five during Indian cricket’s golden phase, has not been included in the felicitation list.

Meanwhile on Diana Edulji’s request, the former India women’s cricketers, who will be getting one-time ex-gratia payment, will be handed over their cheques at their local IPL venues during the matches.

The tenth edition of the cash-rich IPL will kick-start from April 5. The inaugural match will be played between defending champion Sunrisers Hyderabad and runner up Royal Challengers Bangalore.

SRH will be led by their skipper David Warner while veteran South Africa cricketer AB deVilliers is likely to lead RCB in the first few games because their captain Virat Kohli is injured.