IPL or Indian Premier League started in 2008 and has since then seen a stellar popularity among the cricket loving masses. It is one of the most awaited sporting events of the year. The game is played in the Twenty20 format. Hence the games don’t last for more than 3-4 hours. It sees a lot of fanfare and entertainment at the time of the match. The IPL sees more participation from women and children as audience because of the entertainment quotient. Singers and dancers perform during breaks which can keep non-followers of cricket entertained as well.
Usually there are 8 participating teams every year. The number has varied over the years with Kochi Tuskers backing out of the tournament. Currently, with the addition of Pune Warriors India, 9 teams are participating in the tournament.
Every year, an auction is conducted to pick players for teams. Team owners and managers often retain consistent players in the teams. However, sometimes newer players are picked up for the team’s benefit, quite similar to the process in the English Premier League.
This year won’t be any different from the past ones, with the auction being slated to be held on February 6 2014. The process shall be no different from the rest.
A top base price for ipl auction is agreed upon every year. This year, the highest amount being notched up is Rs 20 million or $320,000. Close to 232 players from 10 different countries are up for the auction to be held in Bangalore. Among international players, Steven Smith, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson feature among the top 31 players to have attracted the top base price for ipl auction. They are much in demand since their performance in the Ashes tournament.
Indians featuring the top list include veteran such as Yuvraj Singh and Virendra Sehwag. Other players such as Yusuf Pathan, Dinesh Kartik and Pragyan Ojha have also been up for the Rs 20 million slots. Irrfan Pathan, the all-rounder, has failed to notch up the Rs 20 million slots like his brother. However, he has managed to bag a price tag of Rs 15 million.
Like other past years, Pakistani players won’t be allowed to be a part of the ipl auction. However, two players of Pakistani origin, Fawad Ahmad and Azhar Mahmood from Australia and England respectively would be allowed to participate. Speculations suggest the ipl auction will see Corey Anderson from New Zealand as the most sought after player after he has become the fastest player to hit a century, off 36 balls, against West Indies.
This year, Sri Lankan players such as Kumar Sangakkara won’t be a part of the ipl because of a tournament later in the year. However, his co-players on the Sri Lankan team players such as Mahela Jayawardene and Angelo Mathews shall be a part of the process.
To know where to buy IPL merchandise before the games begin in April log into online classifieds. You can find stores selling them in your city.
No comments:
Post a Comment