IPL 2018: Is this the last of Indian Premier League's mega auctions?

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming (second from left) arrives to take part in the IPL Player Auction at Bangalore yesterday. Pic/PTI

Have we seen the last of these mega auctions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), ones which are held every three years or so? Maybe, just maybe, going by what the IPL CEO Hemang Amin had to say while responding to a question at the end of this year's auction in Bangalore last evening.

Four-year gap
"This time, we had this big auction after four years because we had suspended two teams for two years. So we extended the player regulations by one year and had the auction after four years. Going forward, the thinking is that we will not have this mega auction but we will consider having a draft system for new players which acts as a feeder system for the team too. The IPL GC is already thinking on those lines... how to cut down on the big auctions and have continuity with the teams," said Amin.

VVS Laxman, the mentor of Sunrisers Hyderabad, though saw it differently and he, in fact, welcomed these mega auctions.
Meantime, Richard Madley, the auctioneer, reflecting on the large number of players going unsold in the accelerated bidding process, suggested a way out. "As an independent auctioneer who runs auctions in many countries, I suppose one way of focusing the attention would be to charge an entry fee for every player you ask," he said.

Brunch with cricket
IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla had as good as announced that the timings for the IPL matches would undergo a change from this year in order to accommodate the wishes of the new broadcasters Star TV, bringing some adverse remarks from a few franchises. But Shukla was quick to state at every given opportunity that no decision had been made. Mumbai Indians team owner Akash Ambani had stated his team's objections to any changes: "We are one of the teams opposing the move. Mumbaikars finish work late and would prefer 8pm starts."

Yesterday, there was a different view expressed by another franchises. "We are open to change, both as far as the double headers being played at 5.30pm and 7pm as also all single matches starting at 7.00 pm. In fact, we would like to suggest that on Sundays the first of the double headers could start in the morning itself and provide a new concept - brunch with cricket," said an official.

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