Would want Sachin to captain team: Sahara chief

Subroto Roy, the Sahara Group chief, missed the opportunity to buy an IPL franchise in the original round of bidding, but ensured that he wouldn't miss out when the chance to own a franchise presented itself to him again. Consequently, he shelled out a mind boggling sum of 1700 Crores to ensure that the Pune franchise would be his. 

And having got the franchise, Subroto wants nothing less than the best. He revealed that he would love to have Sachin Tendulkar to captain the side. 

"Who would not... I certainly would want Sachin to captain if he is available," Roy, whose group is team sponsor of the Indian cricketing side said. 

Tendulkar, of course, currently leads the Mumbai Indians owned by Mukesh and Nita Ambani. 

The new auctions for the IPL franchises will take place in September, with all players available, unless there is a negotiated settlement between some players and their existing franchises. 

Roy, who also has a close association with Bollywood, said that he would also consider talking to superstar Amitabh Bachchan and his family for promoting his team. 

"No human can deny the element of glamour.. so glamour should be added to these kind of activities... it definitely helps," he said on the ownership of teams by cine stars Shahrukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty. 

The Sahara group chief is believed to have bailed out and revived the Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited a few years ago. 

"Why not... I have not talked to them yet (Bachchan family)... I will talk to him (Amitabh)," he said. 

Roy explained his decision at not entering the bidding in the first year by saying it was an emotional decision. 

"We are the team sponsors of BCCI and so emotionally I felt why put our logo on the club level chest... It was an emotional decision. 

"Now, the situation is completely different... our decision (now) is a good combination of emotion and materialism... there is a business (angle) to it." 

Roy said that having won a team, he would now want to make the best of the situation to make a success out of it. 

"Right in the first year it will give operational profits," he said, although admitting that during the first year even the topmost bid of over $100 million by the Ambani, was considered very high. 

"Now we have have bid more than 3-4 times and we consider there is value to it. In the long run, it will be very, very beneficial," he said, adding that though the advantage would go to the first mover, the group would consider all the commercial aspects