The auction is something that every cricket buff truly looks forward to, and the 2024 one is no different. Te IPL 2024 auction is gearing up for a continuous outbreak of excitement, speculation, and drama-players bought, sold, and traded to fill slots in a team aspect of one of the most popular cricket leagues worldwide. New stars, big names, and big money; the auction gives the teams an opportunity to try to form a strong team for the upcoming season.
So, here’s everything you need to know about the IPL 2024 Auction:
Auction Overview
The IPL 2024 auction will be a mini-auction in terms of filling slots, and therefore this year fewer slots are available for fill-up, unlike in earlier seasons. This mini-auction will make a way for the 2024 squads and that is where the franchises will strategize to finalize their rosters. This is the time for players to step up and for teams to get the right mix of talent.
For the first time ever, IPL auctions are being held outside the Indian subcontinent – thus far, instead in Dubai. The auction will commence at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, where one must set their timer for 11:30 AM (local) or 1:00 PM (IST). The event will be telecast live on Star Sports channels and streamed on JioCinema App.
Teams and Players: For the auction, over 1166 players registered, whereas the teams shortlisted only 333 players. These shortlisted 333 players consist of 214 Indians and 119 foreign players, which include 116 capped players, 215 uncapped, and 2 Associate players. 77 slots of the 10 teams in IPL are to be filled up in the auction, with 30 slots open only for foreign players.
Player Categories: The players will be classified in 19 sets based on their area of expertise: batsmen, all-rounders, spinners, fast bowlers, and wicketkeepers. These sets will alternate between capped and uncapped players. The groups are designed considerably to provide a continuous flow to the auction and guarantee fair attention to every category of players.
Base Prices: The IPL auction typically witnesses some massive bidding wars, and the base price of a player plays a very important role in setting the stage for these wars. For IPL 2024, 23 players have set their base price as INR 2 Crores (approx. USD 240,000). These include some famous names like Mitchell Starc and Umesh Yadav, predicted to attract high bidding. There are another 13 players who have set their base price as INR 1.5 Crores (approx. USD 180,000).
The Financial Dynamics
The very prospect of laying in money brings its own excitement to such a summit. Each franchise has a definite purse for contracting players.
Leading in the purse is the Gujarat Titans, with an astounding INR 38.15 crore (approx. USD 4.6 million).
The Lucknow Super Giants have a purse of about INR 13.15 crore (approx. USD 1.58 million).
The entire 2023 IPL has a combined purse of INR 262.95 crore (approx. USD 31.58 million), and it is an amount that will probably go back and forth in some thrilling bidding wars.
Notable Absences
There are always players that mysteriously do not show up for the IPL auction each year. In 2024, big names like England’s Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Jofra Archer are auction absentees. There were also absentees from the subcontinent, like Kedar Jadhav, Litton Das, and Shakib Al Hasan. That might affect a few strategies of some teams, but it opens doors for others to shine.
IPL auction has always been a platform for some players to launch their careers, and this year there are a few notable players to watch over:
Mitchell Starc: Eight years later, Starc is back into the auction this time, and much interest is expected.If healthy, he can win matches; his return could hence initiate a bidding war amongst teams trying to build upon their bowling arsenals. Rachin Ravindra: This young Kiwi all-rounder, during the recent ODI World Cup, ruffled a lot of feathers with some memorable performances. His dynamic skills with bat and ball could attract a high price since franchises will want to add more balance to their roster.
For these players, a lot of interest could be generated as teams are looking for key additions to their roster.
Trading and Retention
Teams have also traded players before the auction to strengthen their squads. Some high-profile trades have been made recently:
Mumbai Indians had a massive trade by acquiring Hardik Pandya from the Gujarat Titans, making him captain of the side.
A Royal Challengers Mumbai Indians trade saw Royal Challengers pick Cameron Green.
The trades are of great importance to the IPL’s strategies. Post-auction, the trading window opens on December 20 for an entire month until just before the commencement of the 2024 season, during which teams are able to manipulate their squads further.
Auctioneer: Mallika Sagar
A unique aspect of the 2024 IPL auction will be the female auctioneer. Mallika Sagar will be making history as the first woman auctioneer in IPL history, succeeding Hugh Edmeades. Her presence adds to the significance of the auction, as it represents another milestone in the changing face of the IPL.
Where to Watch
The IPL 2024 auction will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network. Extending the broadcast is streaming the event on the JioCinema app. Fans across the world will get to see the drama unfold, with updates on sales of players, unsold players, and the overall team strategy.
Conclusion
The IPL 2024 auction represents one of the critical factors in forming any team. The auction shall be a moment of intense action and excitement as franchises would look to finalize their squads for the next season. Players would be sold in the auction, and ways would be created to enforce big-money transactions as teams across the spectrum of the game jostle for the best mix of talent to make a bid for the title. For fans, this is the chance to see their favorite players switch sides, while it is for the players their moment to make a statement.
RevSportz will keep you updated with the IPL 2024 auction, with live coverage of all the happenings, including sold or unsold players, big-money transactions, and tactical moves made by the teams amid the auction. This is an event you simply cannot afford to miss!