HIL: Dhoni buys Ranchi franchise

After motorsports and football, Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has now lent his support to Indian hockey by becoming the owner of the Ranchi franchise of the Hockey India League (HIL). 

Dhoni bought the team along with Sahara India Pariwar, who already is the owner of the Uttar Pradesh Wizards side in the HIL. The new Ranchi franchise will be known as ‘Ranchi Rays’ from third edition of HHIL to be held in January-February next year. 

Dhoni, a proud son of the city, himself was present on the occasion and unveiled the team logo and jersey at a posh city hotel here. The previous Ranchi franchise known as Ranchi Rhinos, who were the inaugural champions of HHIL, was scrapped following a distrust between previous owners Patel-PS Group and Uniexcel Group and league organisers Hockey India (HI).