New Delhi, May 15 -- For the Torrent Group, the resumption of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on 17 May, after it was suspended due to armed hostilities between India and Pakistan, would be small relief. Gujarat Titans, the IPL team acquired by them barely two months ago, sits atop the points table. It's a strong contender to go all the way, the financial reward for which is Rs.20 crore. Yet, in the larger scheme of sports ownership, that Rs.20 crore financial upside is small change.

For owners of sports teams, like the Torrent Group, it's not so much about the team as a running enterprise, and the profits they generate. As a business, there is only so much that a sports franchise can grow.

What sports ownership brings is visibility. It...