Why The IPL Auction Is Important

The Indian Premier League is about to burst on to the global cricket scene and spectators and fans are waiting with bated breath for the events to unfold. The IPL auction is of prime importance in this scenario. The auction will determine team composition and is a primary marker of team strategy before the main event. The seventh edition of the IPL is slated to be the most exciting edition of this tournament over the years. Cricket lovers and enthusiasts are waiting with bated breath for the commencement of this glorious sporting extravaganza. What makes the IPL so special? What contributes to its popularity and makes it a sporting event to reckon with in modern times?

IPL Auctions

The IPL’s popularity has a lot to do with the unique format and concept it presents to global audiences. The Indian Premier League has always presented a heady mixture of glamour, sporting excellence, nail biting finishes, exciting contests, international and domestic super stars, Bollywood, celebrities and off field events. This makes the IPL a complete entertainment package for the mass. Cricket is anyway a religion in India and the IPL has only taken the excitement a notch higher.

Most importantly, viewers and television audiences can also root for their favorite cities and franchises. This has only sparked additional interest in the beautiful game. The 2014 IPL auction is very important from this point of view. This auction will see over two hundred players going under the hammer. There will be some exciting players who will be up for auction this season. This includes Corey Anderson, Shami Ahmed, Sanju Samson and others. Ravindra Jadeja was the biggest draw at last season’s IPL.

This year, Anderson is reportedly set to be pursued by almost all the franchises with huge pay packets and a bidding war set to take place at the auctions. However, more than Rs. 2 crore cannot be paid to any global or international player this time. This was far higher in the early few editions. Alongside, franchises that retain their players, will have limited purses for the auction. This has not deterred franchises like Chennai, Rajasthan and Bangalore with regard to retaining their key players for the 2014 season. Chennai will reportedly retain the highest number of players along with Mumbai. The maximum quota of retentions is 5 and Chennai looks set to retain iconic skipper MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Dwayne Bravo and Suresh Raina.

Mumbai, on the other hand, have retained their skipper Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard and Ambati Rayudu. Rajasthan Royals have also retained the maximum number of five players while Bangalore has only retained their top three international super stars. On the other hand, Delhi Daredevils has sprung a surprise by deciding to go with a total non-retention policy. Soak up the IPL season with fabulous team merchandise, other goodies and top notch sports and fitness equipment. You can buy some cool gear online and celebrate cricket’s biggest extravaganza in style!