The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are divided on whether a mega auction should be held ahead of the next season. During a lengthy meeting with BCCI officials on Wednesday evening, some franchises argued against a mega auction and advocated for more player retention. While nine franchise owners, including Shah Rukh Khan, attended the meeting in person, the Ambanis, owners of Mumbai Indians, participated via video conferencing from Paris.
Several franchise officials engaged in “healthy discussions” about the future of the IPL. Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal expressed his support for a mega auction, believing it promotes a more competitive environment. “I was surprised that there was a debate. Some people said that there should not be a mega auction at all and that there should be only smaller auctions. But I’m not in that camp,” Jindal stated. “I feel that it evens the playing field and it’s very good for everyone. It makes the IPL what it is. It makes it competitive.”
The current rule allows franchises to retain up to four players, with a mega auction held every three years to replenish the player pool. Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia acknowledged the diversity of opinions, emphasizing the importance of considering all stakeholders. “Everyone gave their views, and they had their opinions. At the end of the day, you have to look at all the stakeholders and do what’s best for all. That’s most important. It’s the biggest league in the world and we need to ensure we keep the bar high,” Wadia said.
However, some franchises, like Sunrisers Hyderabad, expressed their preference for continuity. Sunrisers’ owner Kavya Maran pointed out the time and investment needed to develop a strong squad, highlighting the growth of players like Abhishek Sharma. “It takes a lot of time to build a squad and as discussed it also takes quite a bit of time and investment for the younger players to mature. It has taken Abhishek Sharma three years to become consistent with his performances. You would agree that there are many such examples in other teams too,” Maran stated.
The franchises also presented their perspectives on the Impact Player rule. Jindal, opposed to the rule, expressed concerns about its impact on the development of all-rounders. “Some people want it because it gives a chance to young players to play in the IPL. Some people don’t want it because it is detrimental to Indian cricket in terms of the development of all-rounders. So, it’s a mixed bag and I’m in the second camp. I don’t want it,” Jindal said.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed that the board will consider all viewpoints and make a final decision within the next few weeks. “The retention issue, the RTM issue and all other aspects were discussed. We will let the franchises know about our decision in a week’s time,” Shah told reporters.
The availability of overseas players for the next three-year cycle was another topic of discussion. The previous season witnessed tension between the BCCI and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), leading to English players missing IPL playoffs due to national commitments. While the BCCI sought to resolve the issue, the ECB remained firm, forcing franchises to create contingency plans.
Wadia and Shah Rukh Khan reportedly engaged in a heated argument regarding the auction format, but Wadia clarified that these reports were untrue. “I have known Shah Rukh much before the IPL started. I know his family and I have the utmost regard for him and the family. We go back a long way and there’s absolutely no truth to such baseless reports,” Wadia stated.
The BCCI is expected to make a final decision on the mega auction, player retention, and other key issues by the end of August, taking into account the opinions of all stakeholders and ensuring the continued success of the IPL.
