Despite being a small event, the December 16 IPL auction might have some surprising celebrity power. The Punjab Kings delegation is anticipated to be led by Shreyas Iyer, who is presently sidelined due to a spleen ailment in Abu Dhabi.
Franchises had until Wednesday, December 10, to notify the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of the names of their representatives for the auction. According to BCCI sources, Punjab Kings have added their captain’s name to the list. According to BCCI and auction regulations, a team may have up to eight individuals inside the auction hall and an extra six outside.
Unless there is a last-minute change of plans, sources say Iyer is anticipated to be in Abu Dhabi.
Since the ODI series in Australia last month, Iyer has not played. His outstanding leadership and performances led the team to the final the previous season.
Ricky Ponting, though, is not likely to travel to Abu Dhabi. In Australia, the franchise head coach currently has a deal with Seven Network to commentate on the Ashes. The third Test starts the next day, on December 17, in Adelaide. Ponting’s projected absence may be due to more than just commentary commitments. Punjab Kings may only buy a maximum of four players, including two foreign acquisitions, with the INR 11.5 crore they have left over after the auction.
Vettori will take a vacation from Ashes’ job
Despite his obligations to Ashes, Daniel Vettori will attend the auction. It is believed that the Australian assistant coach asked Cricket Australia (CA) for permission to visit Abu Dhabi during the five-Test series. The scenario would be similar to previous year, when he was allowed to attend the auction in Jeddah during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, according to a CA spokeswoman. Vettori did not reply to a text message from Cricbuzz.
Tom Moody, the head coach and global director of cricket for the team, and Justin Langer will be among the prominent Australians at the LSG table.
MI’s most valuable franchise
In the meantime, the Mumbai Indians are considered the most valued IPL team. The five-time winners, which are owned by Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL), are worth USD 108 million, according to the Brand Finance Annual Report on the Most Valuable IPL brands. Chennai Super Kings are in third place with USD 93 million, followed closely by Royal Challengers Bengaluru at USD 105 million.
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