Cricket fans have an unending curiosity regarding the IPL auction. There had been rumors that this year’s mega auction would take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has confirmed this. The possible date of the IPL auction has also been revealed, though there has been a slight issue regarding the timing of the auction.
Meanwhile, each team has retained two to six players according to their plans. As per the rules, each team can have a maximum of 25 players. Across the 10 IPL teams, 46 players have been retained for the next three seasons. In the auction, up to 204 more players are likely to find teams, of whom around 70 can be foreign players. Cricket fans are eager to see how the teams shape up for the next three years.
According to BCCI sources, the IPL auction is scheduled to be held over two days, November 24 and 25, in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Multiple Indian media outlets have reported these dates based on information from the board. However, an official announcement is still awaited.
Meanwhile, the first Test between Australia and India is set to begin on November 22 in Perth. The scheduled dates for the IPL auction coincide with the third and fourth days of this Test. This is where the main issue arises. The same channel broadcasts both the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the IPL auction, leading to a discussion about when to start the auction.
There is a 5-hour time difference between Perth, Australia, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. BCCI officials have been advised by the broadcast channel that the auction should start only after the day’s play in the Australia-India Test ends. However, several teams are not in favor of continuing the auction late into the night. To accommodate the broadcaster’s request, the auction may take place in the afternoon.
Board officials have already visited Riyadh to inspect the potential venue for the auction. Indian media have confirmed that another BCCI delegation went to Saudi Arabia on Monday. This trip is expected to finalize everything. Initially, Jeddah, Singapore, Dubai, and even Vienna were on the BCCI officials’ list, but ultimately, this year’s IPL mega auction is set to take place in Riyadh.
