IPL 2020 Auction to Take Place in Kolkata on December 19: Report

According to an ESPNCricinfo report, the BCCI is set to hold the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction for 2020 season on December 19 in Kolkata this year instead of Bengaluru. Although it was a constant venue for the IPL auction since its inaugural year in 2008.

However, the report further added that the franchises were informed on Monday about the players trading that the window for this will close on November 14. Usually, the auctions have been done in the same year as that of the tournament. The auction took place for 2019 IPL on December 2018.

All the franchises were handed Rs. 85 crore to spend in the auction for the 2020 season. Even the teams will also have an additional Rs. 3 crore whatever the balance left in their respective purses from the last auction. Earlier the news also came that Delhi Capitals are interested in Rajasthan Royals captain Ajinkya Rahane and Kings XI Punjab Ravichandran Ashwin.

In the last auction, all the eight franchises had the permission to retain five players. However, the board is yet to announce the numbers of players that the franchise can retain this year. Although one can expect the IPL governing body will allow the teams to retain the maximum number of players.

Delhi Capitals have the biggest balance with Rs. 8.2 crore. Rajasthan Royals are following them with Rs. 7.15 crore. Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders have Rs. 6.05 crore in their purse, whereas Sunrisers Hyderabad, the winner of 2016 edition have Rs. 5.3 crore.

Kings XI Punjab have only 3.7 crore while the last time finalist Chennai Super Kings have Rs. 3.2 crore. Defending champions Mumbai Indians have Rs. 3.05 crore and Royal Challengers Bangalore have Rs. 1.8 crore in their kitty.

However, this year’s auction will be the final small auction before they will come up with fresh squads for the 2021 season. The last such auction happened in 2018 when all the franchises were allowed to retain 5 players. However, in last year’s auction, 351 players were available in the auction for 70 possible vacant places.

Eventually, 60 were sold, including 40 Indians and 20 overseas players. Pacer Jaydev Unadkat and spinner Varun Chakravarthy were the costliest players in the auction. Both the players went for INR 8.4 crores to Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab respectively.