An IPL Auction is an integral part of the Indian Premier League and is carried out every season at the beginning of the year. Since the year of commencement in 2008, it has continued with the same process and amazement. It is celebrated as a festival which takes place for two complete days. However, unlike other auctions, the IPL auction is more complex than it sounds. It involves a complex and step-by-step process undertaken with utmost care to derive the maximum benefits.

So curious to know more? Please read this article below to learn everything about what is IPL auction and how it works, and understand the entire bidding process to get a thorough idea of it. So, read the blog to know more.

What Is IPL Auction?

An IPL auction is an event that takes place annually where the players bid to purchase players to add them to the T20 match. The auctioning process occurs every year since the establishment of the Indian Premier League. It is conducted by the BCCI to auction the players to various franchises. The franchises bid for the listed players and end with a settled squad for every IPL team. Though it is a two-day event, the franchises research many things before bidding for the players. It includes various factors, including the budget, their expectations about the players and their commitment towards the game, analysis of their injury history to avoid any further risks to their performance, the player's connection with the coach, and many more things.

When Was the First IPL Auction Held?

The first IPL auction was held on February 20, 2008 in Mumbai. It has been 16 years since the Indian Premier League was established. This inaugural auction made headlines in the cricketing profession, where several big stars were sold for big bucks during the debut season.

How Does the Auction Take Place?

At every auction, the team looks for the reshuffling of the players who can play for them. During the finals, the auction selections and purchases take place, where the players can bid for the players they want to. The process starts when the players are put up for an auction. Based on their proficiency and expertise, they are categorized into capped, uncapped, and foreign players, whereas the capped players represent India up to the international level. Uncapped players are those who have only been described in domestic matches within the country, and a foreign player is a player from the associate cricket nation who can be either capped or uncapped. Based on the expertise of each player, there is a base price that the players set for themselves, after which the auctions take place with bidding. 

The IPL team, interested in buying a particular player, bids for them. On some occasions, many teams bid for a single player; in that case, the highest bidder can purchase the player.

What Is the Base Price of the Players?

The base price is something that the players set for themselves. Based on their proficiency and expertise, the base price can range from INR 10 lakh and lower than INR 2 Crore! No player is allowed to bid below the given price. Uncapped players have low prices, whereas the other players purchase capped and foreign players for higher prices. For becoming a well established player it requires a lot of effort along with proper sports nutrition tips for proper health to play the game with utmost passion.

How Many Players Are Required in the Team Squad?

Regarding the number of players, each team squad can have at least 18 players and a maximum of 25 players. Only 8 foreign players are allowed in a team; the other 17 must be Indian players, both capped and uncapped. In other scenarios, 25 players with no foreign players could also be possible. Since the foreign players have a well-established history and global recognition and fame, no one misses a chance on them. However, only 4 players are allowed in a match of 11 players.

What Is a Right to Match Card?

The right-to-match card is a unique feature of the IPL auction process. It helps the franchises retain players from their previous squad who have been bidding for the other team, and this is done by matching the bidding of the highest player during the auction. However, three retentions or three RTMs were permitted to the overall limit of five.

What Are the IPL Auction Rules?

The following are the IPL auction rules to know;

  • At least 18 to 25 players must be there in a team, of which 18 must be Indian players, and the remaining 8 players can be foreign players.

  • Every team is allocated an amount of 100 crores, and every team must spend at least 75 from their purse.

  • The capped players have the highest base price, whereas the uncapped players have a low base price. Foreign players usually have the highest base price.

  • The lowest base price for a player is around 20 Lakh INR, and the highest should be 2 Crore INR.

How Much Money Does Each Team Get in the IPL Auction?

Each IPL franchise in the team gets an amount of 100 Crores INR to collect various players for their team at both the domestic and international levels. However, as per the recent rules, the franchises must only use 75% of the income from their purse. They can also close the given account as wished, like how CSK spent 79.85 crores once left with just 15 lakhs left with them.

Frequently Asked Questions about the What Is IPL Auction

What Is the RTM Rule in an IPL Auction?

As per the rule, the players can get back the players who played with them in the previous season, especially if they match the highest bid placed by a franchise.

Which Is the Leading Auction in IPL? 

The mega auction is the main auction in the IPL, which is held every three years, where the teams change their composition from its core.

What Are the Different Categories of Players in the IPL Auction?

The three different categories of players in the IPL auction are capped players, uncapped players, and foreign players.

Before understanding the bidding process, knowing what is IPL auction is essential as it has played a vital role in shaping the IPL season. However, it is also necessary to understand the intricacies behind fame and vogue.

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