The IPL auction is like any other auction. The participating teams are allowed to have a certain amount of money within which they have to buy. This is why every year before the auction the franchises let some players go in order to have some money with which they can buy new players. This is especially applicable for teams that do not perform according to expectations and want to do better the next year. Normally, the better-performing and settled units do not release many players. Now, these players enter the auction again alongwith newer entries from within India and other countries.
The auction process explained
The IPL organizing committee then decides the price of these players and then an initial list is released. This list is reviewed by team owners and management and then it is pruned to form a second list. These are the players who enter the main auction. This year too, there were around 700 players and it was whittled down to 351 players. During the auction the players are sold on the basis of the highest bid that they get. When the initial round gets over, a second round happens with all the unsold players going under the hammer yet again. At that time teams may pick some names from this list on the basis of their requirements. The auction for 2016 was a tad different from others because it was preceded by a draft, which allowed the two new franchises – Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions – to pick five players each from the now-suspended franchises – Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
Who all are present? Why is it such an important event?
The IPL auction is one of the most eagerly-anticipated events in the Indian cricketing calendar and there are several reasons for the same. It is a star-studded event attended by team owners, the most famous among them being Preity Zinta, Neeta Ambani, and Dr Vijay Mallya, coaches, and captains. The importance of this annual event lies in the fact that it allows the owners and management people to assemble a good team that can go on and perform well. For the players, especially ones who have not played international cricket, this is a chance to feature in the league and learn first-hand from the stars.
The big buys
Yuvraj Singh: Big hitter and finisher with the bat, dependable bowler, exceptional fielder – a complete package in all; also has a couple of World Cup winners’ medals
Martin Guptill: Excellent performer at top of the order and an electric fielder to boot, Guptill is a proven quantity in this format internationally for New Zealand
Kevin Pietersen: Even after retirement he is going strong with the bat in T20 leagues around the world and is quite capable of mentoring the youngsters; has won a T20 World Cup with England as well
Jos Buttler: The best batsman for England of late in shorter formats, he is an explosive hitter capable of changing the course of an innings altogether; dependable behind the stumps
Shane Watson: Aside his immense experience in this format, he is capable of batting anywhere in the batting order and can take wickets and stop runs with his sharp medium pace; also a World Cup winner to boot
Sanju Samson: A notable omission to India’s World T20 squad, he is a dashing batsman down the order and also adds value with his wicketkeeping
Dale Steyn: The best fast bowler in the world needs no introduction; a tried and tested bowler capable of high-class quick bowling and handy fielding; success may have eluded him but his class is unquestionable
Irfan Pathan: a good cricketer in the sense that he can bowl at different stages in an innings and get wickets and also bat anywhere; has won a T20 World Cup for India
Aaron Finch: Australia’s T20 captain is a devastating batsman, one of the very best in the format; if he is on song then he can snatch the game away from the opposition
Mitchell Marsh: One of the leading allrounders in Australia right now, he bats in the middle order and can play at any tempo that the team needs and bowls sharp medium pace, besides being a good fielder
Mahela Jayawardene: The silky Sri Lankan is immensely experienced in this format having played all around the world and in Indian subcontinent his record is really great; also a World Cup winner for Sri Lanka in this format
Ashish Nehra: A member of the 2011 World Cup winning team Nehra is one of the rare Indian bowlers who can be trusted at any stage of the innings
Dinesh Karthik: Karthik, who has fallen off the radar of late, still remains a handy batsman and an agile keeper in the format; a surprise inclusion in the list, though
Ishant Sharma: A surprise entrant in this list considering he has never really been an India regular in the shorter formats, Ishant, nonetheless, is a bowler capable of searing pace and really-good Yorkers, which are good skills to have in this format.
