Salman Khan breaks silence on buying an IPL team

Salman was offered a team in the year 2008 when the IPL was started

Many Bollywood stars have big investments in the IPL. Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla are the owners of three-time champion Kolkata Knight Riders, while Preity Zinta is one of the co-owners of IPL 2025 finalist Punjab Kings. Bollywood's Bhaijaan Salman Khan is also very interested in cricket. He keeps tweeting about IPL. An old tweet of his for Preity Zinta's team went viral after Punjab reached the final of IPL 2025. Although Salman Khan is not the owner of any IPL team. But on Sunday he made an interesting revelation that he was offered a team in the year 2008 when the Indian Premier League (IPL) was started.

Salman Khan had contemplated acquiring an IPL team around the league’s inception in 2008. In a 2009 interview, he admitted to wanting a team and discussed the complicated, lengthy bidding and ownership process. However, he never went forward with it, clarifying that the decision was not driven by ego clashes with other celebrity owners like Shah Rukh Khan. Salman explained that investing hundreds of crores for ego reasons was unreasonable, and he opted out simply based on different priorities and perspectives.

I have become too old for the IPL: Salman

During the event in Mumbai, when he was asked if he is interested in buying an IPL team in the future, the 59-year-old star replied in his own style, “I have become too old for the IPL.” Salman further said, “IPL was offered a long time ago but I did not take it at that time. Now it is not like I am regretting it. I am happy. I'm very happy. I took part in the ISPL league. Tennis ball, street cricket. The one that I can play. Big Leagues are not in our reach, we are grassroots players, we are good here.”

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has bought the New Delhi franchise, stepping into the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL). This team will join the league from Season 3 (2025). The league already has many celebrity team owners, including Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Surya, Hrithik Roshan and Ram Charan, who represent teams from different cities. The league already has many celebrity owners and now Salman's entry is expected to increase the competition and excitement. The New Delhi team will make its identity in a Dabangg style, while fans will also get a new experience of seeing their favorite star as the owner of a cricket team.

In season 2 of the Indian Street Premier League, Mazhi Mumbai won the title. This time in the third season, the mascot of ISPL is Googly Bhai. Tendulkar, Ashish Shelar, a cabinet minister and member of the Asian Cricket Council, Meenal Amol Kale, and Suraj Samat are among the key players in this ISPL competition.  Their goal is to link professional cricket possibilities with local talent.  "Cricket resonates like a heartbeat in every street, and when that energy reaches the stadium, a league like ISPL is born," stated Salman Khan after acquiring the team. I have always been passionate about this game and am very excited to be associated with ISPL. This unique league not only promotes grassroots cricket in India, but also provides an important platform to talented players."

Meanwhile, Salman’s current professional engagements include acting in high-profile films such as "Battleground Galwan" and hosting the upcoming season 19 of "Bigg Boss," showcasing his continued dominance in Bollywood. Despite his absence from IPL ownership, Salman remains an avid cricket fan and frequently shares his thoughts on the sport, further endearing him to cricket-loving fans across India.