The cricketing world is abuzz with excitement ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction set to take place in Dubai today. The 10 IPL franchises are gearing up to vie for top-tier players in what promises to be an intense bidding showdown.
Ahead of the auction, a total of 333 players have been registered for this grand event. Initially, a whopping 1166 players threw their names into the hat, but the franchises narrowed it down to 333 cricketers, releasing 833 players from contention.
Among the 333 players, 214 are Indian while the remaining cricketers are from overseas. Notably, 116 have prior experience in the extravagant T20 tournament, while 215 cricketers are yet to be capped.
The franchises are armed with considerable funds for the bidding war. Teams like Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, and Rajasthan Royals are set to exhaust their remaining purse in a bid to finalise their squads.
The auction process remains unchanged, categorizing the 332 players into 19 sets based on their cricketing roles, such as batters, all-rounders, wicketkeepers, fast bowlers, spinners, and uncapped players.
Franchises can start bidding for as little as Rs 2 crore, with the expectation that the top will command much larger sums. There is a lot of speculation about who will be rewarded handsomely.
Although a smaller-scale event, hefty sums are anticipated to be spent, and significant acquisitions are expected considering the caliber of released players from certain teams and the high-profile names available. This year’s auction pool comprises both renowned figures and promising young talents that could spark intense bidding wars.
In the upcoming auction, 17-year-old Kwena Maphaka from South Africa will be the youngest participant, while 38-year-old batting all-rounder Mohammad Nabi from Afghanistan will be the senior-most contender.
Notably, players like England’s Rehan Ahmed, Bangladesh’s Taskin Ahmed, and Shariful Islam have opted out of the IPL 2024 auction at the eleventh hour.
Mallika Sagar, who recently presided over the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction, will be stepping into the role of auctioneer, replacing Hugh Edmeades. Notably, Sagar’s inclusion marks a significant milestone as the first female auctioneer in the 16-year history of the IPL.
The auction will start at 1 pm and will be live telecast on Star Sports 2HD, Star Sports 2, Star Sports Select 1, Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3, Star Sports First TV, and many more sports channels in India. It will also stream live on Jio Cinema.