It seems the IPL Mega Auction is in full swing with some intriguing developments already unfolding. Here are the key highlights so far:
Retention Highlights
- Mumbai Indians (MI):
- Retained stars like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav, leaving ₹55 crore in their purse.
- Notably released players include Ishan Kishan, Tim David, and Dewald Brevis.
- Punjab Kings (PBKS):
- Only retained two uncapped players (Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh) with the largest purse of ₹110.5 crore.
- Released key names like Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran, and Kagiso Rabada.
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB):
- Retained Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal, leaving a ₹83 crore purse.
- Released prominent players like Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj.
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK):
- Retained MS Dhoni at ₹4 crore, alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja.
- Released players include Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, and Devon Conway.
- Rajasthan Royals (RR):
- Retained six players, including Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal, with the smallest remaining purse of ₹41 crore.
- Released names like Jos Buttler, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Trent Boult.
Auction Highlights
- Purse Allocations:
- Each team started with ₹120 crore, with varying retentions influencing the remaining amounts.
- Punjab Kings (₹110.5 crore) and Rajasthan Royals (₹41 crore) represent the extremes.
- Big Names Under the Hammer:
- Marquee sets include stars like Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Jos Buttler, Mitchell Starc, and Arshdeep Singh.
- Base price for marquee players is set at ₹2 crore.
- Returning Rules:
- The Right to Match (RTM) card is back, allowing teams to reacquire released players but with additional bidding flexibility.
- Mega Auction Venue:
- The event is being held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at the Abadi Al Johar Arena, marking a first for IPL in this region.
- Uncapped Talents:
- Young talents like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who debuted in the Ranji Trophy at 12, and international surprise entrants like James Anderson (42 years old), add unique flavor to this auction.
Expected Bidding Wars
- Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul are predicted to break records, possibly surpassing last year’s ₹24.75 crore highest bid.
- Punjab Kings may reset with big buys, given their untouched ₹110.5 crore purse.
What’s Next?
Day 1 will cover marquee and capped players, while Day 2 will feature an accelerated auction for unsold and nominated players.
Stay tuned for record-breaking bids and surprising team strategies!
