The highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) Auction for Season 18 is set to take place in November, likely during the third or fourth weekend of the month. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed IPL franchises of this potential timeline, indicating that the auction will most likely be held overseas.
Sources within the IPL have shared with Cricbuzz that, similar to last year, the venue is expected to be in the Middle East. After last year’s auction in Dubai, cities like Doha or Abu Dhabi could be on the list. Saudi Arabia, which has been making significant investments in sports, including cricket, is also reportedly interested in hosting the auction, though no venue has been confirmed yet.
This news has prompted a cautious response from IPL franchises, as they have not yet received the retention rules needed for the mega auction. The BCCI has communicated a possible delay in announcing these rules, causing concern among franchise officials about their preparedness for the auction.
Recent reports suggest that the retention rules may be announced by the end of this month, allowing teams about two months to strategize for the auction. The deadline for teams to declare their retentions is expected to be around November 15.
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The BCCI and IPL authorities have long aimed to host the auction overseas, successfully doing so for the first time last year (December 2023). Previous seasons included considerations for locations like London and Istanbul as potential auction venues.
In related news, coaches who worked with Rahul Dravid on the Indian team are likely to secure positions with various IPL franchises. Vikram Rathour, the former batting coach, may join Dravid at Rajasthan Royals, taking over from Trevor Penney, who might be reassigned to the Royals’ Caribbean Premier League (CPL) team, Barbados Royals. Former bowling coach Paras Mhambrey is also expected to join a franchise, although no final decisions have been made yet.
Additionally, it has been reported that these former coaches have turned down commentary offers in favor of coaching roles. Munaf Patel, the former India pacer and 2011 World Cup winner, is anticipated to take up an IPL coaching position this season.