IPL Mega Auction: Franchises Gear Up for Bidding Frenzy
With the highly anticipated IPL mega auction scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, the 10 franchises are meticulously planning their strategies to acquire the world’s top cricketing talent. Having already retained their core players, the franchises will now engage in intense bidding wars to build their teams.
Premier Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, recently released by Rajasthan Royals, has added a touch of entertainment to the auction proceedings by conducting a mock auction on his YouTube channel. Ashwin, acting as the auctioneer, auctioned himself off to various “franchises” represented by fans and cricket enthusiasts.
The franchises will have a vast pool of 1,574 players to choose from, including 1,165 Indians and 409 overseas players. The list features 320 capped players (48 Indians and 272 internationals), 1,224 uncapped players, and 30 players from Associate Nations.
Rajasthan Royals, having retained their full quota of six players, will not have the Right to Match (RTM) option during the auction. This gives other franchises an opportunity to bid for their former players, such as Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The auction will be a crucial event for the franchises as they aim to assemble balanced and competitive teams. With a wide range of players available, the bidding is expected to be fierce, with franchises eager to secure the services of the best talent in the world.
