Cricketers go under the hammer as IPL auction comes to Dubai

The high-voltage and fast-paced auction will see a total of 333 cricketers – 214 Indians and 119 overseas players – go under the hammer for the 17^th season of the richest and most popular cricket league in the world. Only 77 players, including 30 foreign players, will be picked as the teams have only that many vacant spots.

The 2023 final of the tournament was live streamed by 32 million viewers, considered a record for any global event, apart from peak television viewership of 64.1 million.

The auction will start at 1130 UAE time and will be available on live streaming and telecast.

Mallika Sagar makes IPL history

Mallika Sagar, who was the auctioneer in the recent Women’s Premier League auction, will create history by becoming the first-ever female auctioneer in IPL history. Sagar has 25 years of experience as an art auctioneer, having worked several years with Christie’s, and replaces Hugh Edmeades as IPL auctioneer.

Australian superstars Travis Head, the man who almost single-handedly snatched the ICC Cricket World Cup from India earlier this year, and fast bowler Pat Cummins are expected to witness a bidding war.

Head and Cummins are among 23 players who have registered for the highest reserve price of $240,000. Thirteen players are in the $180,000 price bracket. The lowest base price set is $24,000.

With each team allowed a full squad of 25 players, two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders have the maximum number of vacant spots and will bid for 12 players.

The players have been divided into 19 categories based on their specialisation as a batsman, fast bowler spinner, wicket-keeper, all-rounder, or capped and uncapped players.

Gujarat Titans, the 2022 IPL champions and 2023 semi-finalists, recently traded their captain Hardik Pandya to Mumbai Indians and have the biggest purse ($4.58 million) among the 10 teams. Last year’s runners-up Lucknow Super Giants have the lowest purse balance at $1.58 million.