The Indian Premier League (IPL) has announced that its upcoming mini-auction will be held in Dubai on December 19, 2023. This marks the first time the event will take place outside of India, adding a touch of international flair to the player selection process.
As many as 1,166 players have reportedly registered for the auction, eager to showcase their talents and potentially land lucrative contracts with IPL franchises. Among them are 30 Indian players and 336 overseas players, reflecting the league’s global appeal. This diverse pool consists of 212 capped players, 909 uncapped players, and 45 Associate players, ensuring a thrilling mix of experience and raw potential.
Several prominent names have set their base price at the highest possible INR 2 crore (approximately USD 245,000). These include established stars like Harshal Patel, Shardul Thakur, and Umesh Yadav, alongside overseas heavyweights like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Travis Head. Young guns like Josh Inglis, Mitchell Starc, and Steve Smith also join the fray, along with exciting talents from Associate nations like Mustafizur Rahman and Harry Brook.
Beyond these big names, the auction promises to unearth hidden gems and future stars. With a wider talent pool and the ever-evolving needs of IPL teams, the bidding war is set to be intense and unpredictable.
A total of 77 slots are to be filled in this auction and 30 of those are overseas slots. The franchises have a collective 262.95 crores to spend to add strength to their squads.
IPL teams announced their player retention and releases by the deadline of 26 November 2023. However, teams can still trade players until 12 December 2023, a week before the mini-auction.
The BCCI and IPL Governing Council will decide the dates for the IPL 2024 after the Election Commission of India (ECI) declares the polling schedule for the Lok Sabha elections next year.
