BCCI tells franchises to wait until December for an update on IPL 2021 auction

With the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) likely to take place in the first half of the year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) doesn’t have a whole lot of time in their hands. However, the world’s richest cricket board wishes to bide its time and has therefore asked the franchises to wait until December for an update on the auction for the 2021 edition of the tournament.

It’s also learned that the franchises are divided over holding a mega action. Speculations of a ninth team being added have also got them worried to some extent.

“Few IPL franchises approached the BCCI to seek clarity on the issue. They were told that they will be getting a much clearer idea in the second half December,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying to The Times of India (TOI).

“Most of the teams have formed a core. They want to build on it. For the most part of this IPL, there was a consensus that a major auction was not needed. However, there are a couple of teams who have expressed their wish that board holds an auction,” the official stated.

The mega action is needed for a team like the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs for the first time in their history. MS Dhoni, their captain, after CSK’s last league game, pointed out that the team need an overhaul.

On the other hand, a team like Mumbai Indians (MI) may not need a whole lot of change in their squad. The team, led by Rohit Sharma, won their fifth IPL title in eight years, beating the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the final on Tuesday, November 10 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

BCCI looking for matches in Ahmedabad

The BCCI is also contemplating holding a few IPL matches and international contests at the newly renovated Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, bearing in mind the T20 World Cup next year on Indian soil.

“Ahmedabad should be an important venue for the T20 World Cup. Few IPL games besides the scheduled Test match against England in February at the stadium will only help,” the official added.