Cricketing Kidda !!!: IPL 7 Auction… The Next Big Thing!!!

Since T20 was introduced, it’s been an entertaining addition to cricket and Indian Premier League (IPL) has taken it to new heights. It’s been tried and tested not only at international level but also domestically in every test playing nations and most benefited nations are England (Friends life t20), Australia (Big Bash) and India (IPL) and South Africa is rising (Ram Slam) and IPL 7 won’t be much different rather than stepping one step more ahead.

It’s far from start of the Indian league but newspapers and other media is getting hot as auction dates are reaching nearer. With each day passing-by market is steaming with various updates, rumours and announcements. It’s already announced that there are some change in auction rules for IPL 7, primary being the introduction of “JOKER” card and retention of players per side has increased upto five.

Announcements:

The franchises will be allotted a budget of Rs.60 crore with 5% increment each year for 2015 and 2016.

Taking advantage to change teams like Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super kings and Rajasthan Royals have retained 5 of their players and in addition to it they can get a joker-card for purpose of buy-back one capped or uncapped player. It means Joker card gives the team privilege right of refusal. The other teams have decided to retain fewer players and buy from the auction; such team being:-

· Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Harbhajan Singh and Ambati Rayudu. Leaving Rs.21 crore in their bag.

· Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, R. Ashwin, R. Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo. Going in the auction with remaining Rs.21 crore.

· Rajasthan Royals: A.Rahane, Sanju Samson, Shane Watson, J.Faulkner and Stuart Binny. Remaining Rs.22.5 crore in their basket.

· Sunrisers Hyderabad: Shikhar Dhawan and Dale Steyn. Remaining Amount Rs.38 crore.

· Kings XI Punjab: David Miller and Manan Vohra. Remaining Purse amount Rs.43.5 crore.

· Royal Challenge Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB De Villers bagging Rs.29.5 crore into the auction.

· Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir and Sunil Narine. Remaining Rs.38 crore in their Bag

· Delhi Daredevils being the only team not to retain any player, instead they opted to rebuild team by avoiding players like Shewag, kevin Pietersen, Warner, M.Morkel.

Updates and Notes:

· Auction will be held at ITC Gardenia marking it the first occasion in the history when uncapped players will also be auctioned and that to in Indian Currency and not in US dollars.

· There will be about 540 capped and uncapped players going under the hammer on Feb 12-13 for the next three seasons

· Bifurcating players into 244 capped players (over 170 Indian & 50 Foreigners) and 292 uncapped players (255 Indian & 37 Foreigners)

· Base price starts from Rs30 lakh, Rs.50 Lakh, Rs.1 crore, Rs.1.5 crore and maximum of Rs.2 crore to which only 31 capped players have been named for the maximum base price (11 are Indian, 10 Australian, 3 from England & Srilanka, 2 New Zealander’s and 1 from South Africa & West Indies each).

· Base price for uncapped players have to be fixed by themselves on the three options minimum being Rs.10 Lakh and other two been Rs.20 Lakh & Rs.30 Lakh.

· The BCCI has clearly stated that, they will not entertain player agents or managers and the name of an uncapped player will be forwarded only by the association.

Rumours and Speculations:

As the Big Auction is less than a week away all sorts of rumours have come in just to spice up and bring some more heat going into the auction on Feb 12 &13, 2014.

· Ahead of the February 12 auction for the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League, it is expected the show will be dominated by the foreign stars.

· It’s been rumoured for a while now that Virat Kohli Captain of RCB wants Yuvraj Singh to play by his side

· Shane Watson may lead Royals for the seventh edition in IPL

· It was once said that some of the matches may be shifted to Srilanka (but now it seems unlikely)

· Less number of foreign players in a team squad, reducing it to 9 players from 11 in last edition.

International Players like Corey Anderson, McCullum brothers, Kevin Pietersen, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Hussey, Brett Lee, Quinton de Cock, Steve Smith, Flinch, Faf du Plessis, Morkel brothers, Dwain Smith, Yuvraj Singh, Shewag, Pathan brothers and many many more exciting players will be in the eye of eight different franchises. With Delhi in rebuilding mood they will surely targeting these players.

Thus, folks get gear up for exciting and trilling ride one more time of IPL 7 in April but for now, it’s “AUCTION TIME”.