Stage set for IPL-9 auction thriller

Eight seasons ago when the T20 carnival that revolutionised cricket — IPL — was launched, it broke not just a few myths but also punctured the naysayers along the way. The concept was unique, the characters ebullient and the camaraderie heart-warming.

After eight years of heady games, tight finishes and scintillating performances along with the low of fixing scandal which reared its head, the ninth edition will be upon us in two months time. Then again, it will be like no other.

For starters, there will be no Chennai Super Kings and there will be no Rajasthan Royals and the loyal players following the two-year ban will turn out in strange colours and newer franchises. It’s against this backdrop that the IPL-9 auction scheduled here for Saturday assumes significance.

While the top 10 draws in CSK and RR were quickly absorbed by Rising Pune Super Giants and Gujarat Lions in the Player Draft in December, the remaining will go under the hammer as well as those who have been released by the other teams in what promises to be an exciting day of bidding.

Though the purse for the teams isn’t much — perennial underachievers Delhi Daredevils, having built up a reputation for chopping and changing their team with regular monotony — once again have the biggest booty of them all with Rs 37.15 crore in hand followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad with Rs 30.15 crore.

With erstwhile CSK’s iconic skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni going to the Super Giants and his loyal deputy of eight years, Raina leading the Lions it will be an intense boardroom battle as the new franchisees look to make up the rest of the team. The two new franchisees have roped in five players each and with a purse of Rs 27 crore apiece, will be keenly watched as they bid to build a strong team, albeit for two seasons.

Of the top draws, Daredevils, who broke the vault for Yuvraj Singh at Rs 16 cr last year only to release him following a string of disappointing performances, will be more prudent given the financial constraints. Given his pedigree, Yuvraj, once again will be the cynosure, though it’s been a while since he lit up the IPL arena. But following his recall to the Indian team and his match-finishing abilities that he showed in Australia recently, the all-rounder could yet be the hot pick of the season.

Strangely, there are just two Indian marquee players — Yuvraj and Ishant Sharma, released by SRH while six overseas players led by the maverick Kevin Pietersen look to make a fresh mark in the country’s premier tournament.

Pietersen, a freelancer who plies his trade wherever the money trail takes him, is in a rich vein of form, a factor that franchisees will have made note of. Dhoni’s former team-mate Dwayne Smith, is another top draw and given that Lions’ Dwayne Bravo will be Dhoni’s rival, at least for two years, Pune is likely to make a concerted bid for Smith.

Shane Watson will, in all probability prompt a feverish bidding though the Aussie’s fitness will be of concern as the taxing IPL follows the World T20.