Key moves in the mini IPL auction
Key moves in the mini IPL auction
A mini-auction is usually meant to adjust team plans made during the mega auction for the next three seasons. That’s how franchises have always treated the two auctions – mega and mini. But on Tuesday (December 16) in Abu Dhabi, this “mini” auction may not feel so small. For a couple of teams, the stakes are huge.
KKR and CSK in focus
-> Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are planning beyond just fine-tuning.
-> KKR enters with a massive purse of ₹64.30 crore – even more than what they had in last year’s mega auction (₹51 crore in Jeddah).
-> CSK too has ₹43.40 crore, close to their mega auction budget of ₹55 crore.
-> Other franchises are more settled, but KKR and CSK’s situations stand out.
Not unusual in IPL
-> Teams often rebuild during mini-auctions. Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals have done so after poor results from mega auction buys.
Auction drivers
-> KKR and CSK are expected to dominate early bidding. KKR even released players to shape the auction.
-> Cameron Green is the most sought-after name. Though listed as a batter, his all-round skills make him a hot target. Both KKR and CSK want him.
-> KKR has more money, but will they spend big like they did for Mitchell Starc in Dubai (₹24.75 crore)?
Indian players to watch
-> Ravi Bishnoi is likely to attract strong bids. His name comes later in the list, which may help him.
-> Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan, however, are in the first lot. Since teams save money for marquee players, they may not get the bids they expect.
Other attractions
-> Venkatesh Iyer and Liam Livingstone could still be chased despite poor performances last season.
-> Demand-supply plays a big role in mini-auctions. With fewer quality players available, uncapped players often fetch higher prices than in mega auctions.
Numbers game
-> Total purse: ₹237.55 crore.
-> Around 77 players to be bought.
-> Top 3 buys may take ₹60 crore.
-> 30–40 players could go in the ₹30 lakh–₹1 crore range (about ₹25 crore total).
-> The rest (₹150–160 crore) likely spent on uncapped Indians in Lots 8–10, who may get ₹5–6 crore each – far more than in mega auctions.
Mystery spinner alert
-> Wahidullah Zadran, an 18-year-old Afghan off-spinner, is drawing attention. Mystery spinners often fetch big money in IPL.
Salary cap for overseas players
-> A new rule limits foreign players’ fees in mini-auctions.
-> Maximum they can earn: ₹18 crore (lower of ₹18 crore retention cap or last mega auction’s highest bid).
-> Even if bidding goes higher, the extra money goes to BCCI for player welfare.
-> This rule was introduced to stop overseas players from getting massive sums in mini-auctions.