Mega auctions, nine teams in IPL 2021: Reports

BCCI Officials

The Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) successfully organised the 13th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) in UAE. Mumbai Indians clinched their fifth title of the tournament after defeating Delhi Capitals in the final in Dubai.

Soon after the tournament concluded, a report published in The New Indian Express hinted at mega auctions for IPL 2021. A franchise official said that the Board is in no mood to postpone them to the next year.

Earlier it was reported that BCCI might not conduct big auctions before the start of the next season as IPL 2020 already got delayed. The official also said that the Board has already informed the team owners to prepare for the auctions in the next couple of months.

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“The BCCI has told us to be prepared for an auction in a couple of months. Though it is not official, that they have asked us to be ready means they will go ahead as planned. Moreover, with a new team coming in, it makes sense to have an auction now rather than deferring it by a year,” a franchise official told TNIE.

Ahmedabad franchise next year

Motera's Sardar Patel Stadium — ***^{Motera’s Sardar Patel Stadium}***

The report also suggested the entry of a new IPL team in the upcoming season. An Ahmedabad-based franchise is likely to play next with Sardar Patel Stadium as its home ground.

“The retention policy should continue even if a new team comes in because, at this stage, it won’t be wise to have all players in the auction pool. Teams will have to compromise on the brand value which is built on their star players,” said another franchise official.

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