Category: Sports

Here’s the latest news on IPL 2021 Mega Auction and 9th Team

Lancelot Quadras Leave a comment

With the successful conclusion of IPL 2020 in UAE amid the COVID-19 challenge, all eyes are currently glued to the IPL mega auction that’s inclined to be held next year. Latest reports from BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) state that it’s likely to hold a mega IPL auction for the coming season.

The biggest talking point of this IPL 2021 Mega Auction is the possibility of a ninth team joining the league.

What will happen in IPL 2021 Mega Auction?

At mega auctions, each of the franchises has the decision to retain 3 important players and get “Right-To-Match” (RTM) choices for 2 players. But, there’s no clarity within the retention policy for this IPL 2021 mega auction.

Before, a few news reports asserted that every cricketer will return in the auction pool. Businesses might need to re-construct their teams from scratch. But that does not sound feasible since it will badly alter the brand worth of successful teams such as Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

9th team in IPL 2021 Mega Auction?

As mentioned earlier, the upcoming IPL 2021 mega auction is likely to add a ninth team. News reports claim that the team will probably be from Ahmadabad. “The Sardar Patel Stadium” will be their home ground.

It is known that some of the prominent business houses are enthusiastic about purchasing this new franchise. Unconfirmed reports said that Adani Group, possessed by Gautam Adani, could be one of the front-runners. But, there’s been no further update on this news.

After the IPL 2021 mega auction takes place, BCCI will soon release the latest IPL 2021 schedule.

IPL 2021 MEGA AUCTION

Top 5 incidents in IPL 2020 which will have an impact in IPL 2021:

IPL 13 gave us a great deal of drama, game-changing moments, and controversies. Let’s have a look at “Top Five Episodes in IPL 2020” that will have an impact in IPL 2021.

CSK lost its shine:

MS Dhoni’s team lost 8 out of 14 matches in IPL 2020. They also became the first team to bow out from the contest. Now, CSK will aim to reconstruct the group in the IPL 2021 Mega Auction since most of the players are aged 30 and above. Chennai’s plan is to invest in young blood and will want to shed their “Old men” tag. Hence, it’s possible that fans may see an entirely fresh CSK team in this upcoming cash-rich league.

You can also read – Dream11 wins the Title sponsor for IPL

Umpiring mistakes in IPL 2020:

We saw lots of umpiring mistakes in IPL 2020. The largest among this involved umpire Nitin Menon’s contentious ‘short-run’ in the game involving Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Capitals which finally cost KXIP a playoff berth.

KXIP management and several former players such as Virender Sehwag request for higher technical intervention for IPL 2021. BCCI is likely to pay heed and boost the utilization of technology to minimize human error in IPL 2021.

Absence of cricket fans in the stadium:

IPL 2020 in UAE was a mix of excitement, action, and fair-play but due to the pandemic, everyone missed the loud cheers of audiences in the stadiums and confidence-boosting atmosphere.

The governing council of IPL, including Sourav Ganguly, has taken note of this. Since IPL 2021 will take place in India, the committee is most likely to let fans within the stadium while following appropriate guidelines.

Chris Gayle benched for half IPL 2020:

KXIP benched Chris Gayle in the opening half of IPL 2020 even though he’s their best power-hitter. That turned out to be a massive mistake as they dropped six out of seven matches in his absence.

But, Gayle’s return swung luck in favor of the KL Rahul led team who left a late charge towards the playoffs with 5 wins out of 7 on the rebound.

You can also read – Win Real Money with these Fantasy cricket apps in India

Gayle was able to create a massive impact, scoring 288 runs, such as 3 fifties in just 7 games. The 41-year-old’s addition added firepower into the KXIP middle-order as he batted at No. 3 rather than his usual opener’s spot.

Benching the ‘Universe Boss’ was a huge error that franchises will not dare to replicate in IPL 2021, notably KXIP’s co-owner Ness Wadia who on Thursday affirmed that Gayle will begin from the 1st match in the 2021 season if he stays with Kings XI.

Therefore, franchises in IPL 2021 will not just select players on the grounds of the hefty price tags but will also eye to spend strategically and target cricketers that will provide huge returns without burning a hole in their pockets.

IPL 2020 in UAE

Dream11 Wins the IPL 2020 Title Sponsor Race. Dream11 IPL 2020 is Ready To Rock in UAE

Lancelot Quadras 28 Comments

IPL 2020 was planned in March with the title sponsorship given to VIVO (Chinese Phone Company). But the event got postponed due to this never-ending pandemic.

On August 2nd, BCCI has announced the new schedule for UAE.

IPL 2020 will now start from 19th September and will end on 10th November in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

As you already know, VIVO’s affiliation with IPL started since 2017 as a 5-year deal. But sadly, it ended before the maturity period due to heated controversies between India and China. 

On 14th August BCCI published expression of interest (EOI) to attract new sponsors for IPL 2020 after VIVO’s exit. BCCI was looking to bag at least INR 300 CR out of 5 sponsor deals.

IPL 2020 in UAE

As compared to last year, BCCI has increased the number of sponsors from 3 to 5. This is done to overcome the financial gap that suffered due to VIVO’s untimely exit. 

Many of the bigger Indian companies were looking to bid for the esteemed IPL 2020 rights that will last only for 4 months.

Famous companies like Amazon, Dream11 (A fantasy sports APP), Tata Motors, BYJU, and E-learning APP Un-academy tried hard to bid the highest in order to win the league’s rights. 

On 18 August 2020, BCCI announced the winner, “Dream11, the online fantasy gaming app, as the winner and the official IPL official title sponsor for a whopping title of INR 222 CR.

In a short time, this news went viral on social media and major news websites. I saw a huge traffic spike on twitter with trending hashtags #dream11 #dream11IPL.

From where I see it in a way, it is a positive sign and great publicity which somehow gives IPL a fresh boost. 

IPL Teams

Dream11 is now the official title sponsor of the Indian Premier League 2020. The deal is closed for a period of 4 months. But this time period can be increased if the IPL is delayed under any circumstances. 

A day after dream11 news there are some controversies arising on social media and news channels related to the ownership of Dream11.

As we know, the main reason for VIVO’s exit from the title sponsor is heated sentiments from the Indian and Chinese public. But, after digging out the history of Drem11 it is known to be a Chinese funded company.

Chinese technology company Tencent is the main stockholder of Dream11 which arises many questions. But for now, it’s settled and the deal is all done.

Indian Premier League 2020 is on the roll and ready to set in the UAE on three different venues. Schedule, Venues, and Team Squads are going through necessary changes and are expected to arrive in the coming week.

Some players belonging to countries like South Africa and New Zealand will not make it to the first 10 matches.

But hopefully, they shall join in the following league matches.

Besides schedule, squads, and venues, IPL 2020 live steaming rights are also in question. Star Sports, Indian based company has been broadcasting every IPL match since its inception in 2008.

But according to JIO TV APP, they have some great packages for their fans. Yes, JIO TV is offering free IPL live steaming on their pre-paid plans as follows:

1) Rs 401 Reliance JIO Plan Rs 2,599 Reliance JIO Annual Plan

2) Disney+ Hot Star Subscription

I sincerely hope that the Indian Premier League will be a great show as usual for every cricket lover.

The total brand value of the Indian Premier League in the year 2019 was USD 6.7 Billion. And in 2015 the brand value was even greater which was about USD 15 Billion.

The cash-rich Indian Premier League still has great potential despite the ragging pandemic situation in India.

However, UAE seems to be the best place to hosting outside events like the IPL because the Government of UAE has declared the country as a Safe Zone and there is no lockdown situation.

Moreover, there are no major COVID-19 cases in the last 3 months. 

So let us hope for the best and enjoy this tournament when it starts in less than a month!

You can also read – Your most Burning Questions about IPL 2020 in UAE answered

This Guest Post has been shared by Aman Sarwar who writes IPL related content on https://t20slam.com. Do check out his posts to get some fresh perspective on IPL 2020.

IPL 2020 date and fixture list

Answered: Your Most Burning Questions About IPL 2020

Lancelot Quadras 28 Comments

2020 has been a rollercoaster year for cricket lovers.

First, IPL 2020 was cancelled.

Then international cricket went on an indefinite break.

After 4 months, we saw a Test played between England and the West Indies. This test was special as for the first time in 143 years, it was played with no spectators.

A few days ago, we got an IPL 2020 update that this time, IPL would take place after all. But not in India. It will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The new IPL 2020 date is set on 19th September 2020 and ends on 10th November 2020.

Image credit – CSK Twitter

I know that we won’t be able to see them play live but still, this is a sweet surprise. Here’s what we know as of now.

When will the IPL 2020 begin?

As per the IPL 2020 new schedule, matches will start from 19th September 2020 and end with the final played on 10th November 2020. Matches will take place in the early evening at 15.30 pm IST and late evening at 19.30 pm IST.

Most matches will be played in the evening to suit the Indian audiences. Also, for the first time in 13 years, an IPL final will be played on a weekday. Yes, IPL 2020 final date is 10th November i.e. a Tuesday.

Which locations will the IPL 2020 be played at?

While the primary location in UAE, matches will be played across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. This will be the longest IPL ever at 53 days as the older versions spanned across 49 days only.

How many teams will be part of IPL 2020?

For this 53 day event, there will be 8 teams competing for the coveted IPL 2020 trophy. However, there is a cap on the player limit this time. While the past years had 25 players per team, in this edition of the IPL, teams will only have 24 players. This means, SRH, KXIP, and RR will have to drop one player before leaving for UAE.

Here are the IPL 2020 teams;

Rajasthan Royals (RR), Sun risers Hyderabad (SRH), Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), Mumbai Indians (MI), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB), and Delhi Capitals(DC).

Where can I watch IPL 2020 online?

If you wish to watch live cricket IPL matches, then that can only happen online. You can watch live IPL match online on these websites:

IPL live scores on Cricbuzz

Get the best IPL 2020 commentary on ESPN Cric Info

Will people in the UAE be allowed to watch IPL 2020 matches in the stadium?

As the IPL 2020 date was announced, The Emirates cricket board has stated its wishes to start the IPL with no audience but then, later on, would expect to fill up to 30-50%* crowd capacity. So I’m sure once the IPL 2020 match schedule is finalized, booking IPL tickets will become easier. 

What happened at the IPL Auction 2020?

The IPL Auction 2020 took place in December 2019 at Kolkata. A total of 60+ players are bought by all the combined 8 teams. Only 6 players made it to the million-dollar pay cut ($10,00,000). The highest amount paid for an Indian in this auction was by Chennai Super Kings for Piyush Chawla (6.75 crores = $900,000)

Presenting the Top 6 expensive players of the IPL auction.

Pat Cummins (AUS) – Bought by Kolkata Knight Riders – 15.50 crores

Glen Maxwell (AUS) – Bought by Kings XI Punjab – 10.75 crores

Chris Morris (AUS) – Bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore – 10.00 crores

Sheldon Cottrell (WI) – Bought by Kings XI Punjab – 8.50 crores

Nathan Coulter Nile (AUS) – Bought by Mumbai Indians – 8.00 crores

Shimron Hetmeyer (WI) – Bought by Delhi Capitals – 7.75 crores

So as you can see, 4 of the 6 expensive players belong to Australia and that shows how much of dominance Australians have on IPL.

Which retained players are the most expensive in IPL 2020?

IPL 2020 has world-class players that have been retained by their teams. The salary bracket here to is way higher than the auctioned players.

Here’s a list of Top 6 expensive retained players in IPL 2020:

Virat Kohli (IND) – Retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore – 17.00 crores

MS Dhoni (IND) – Retained by Chennai Super Kings – 15.00 crores

Rohit Sharma (IND) – Retained by Mumbai Indians – 15.00 crores

David Warner (AUS) – Retained by Sun Risers Hyderabad – 12.50 crores

Steven Smith (AUS) – Retained by Rajasthan Royals – 12.50 crores

Sunil Narine (WI) – Retained by Kolkata Knight Riders – 12.50 crores

As you can see, the Top 3 expensive players belong to India. Ben Stokes has been retained by Rajasthan Royals for 12.50 crores. Players like Suresh Raina and AB De Villiers too have been retained by their IPL franchise for more than 10 crores.        

You can also read – UC Cricket Buzz

Where’s the latest IPL 2020 match schedule list?

The IPL 2020 schedule list has not yet been finalized. While rumors have it that the old fixtures will be kept the same way, we are yet to receive any form of update on the same. However, to make it easier for you, here’s an image of the old fixture list with new dates. If all goes well, this same list will be used.

Image credit – ICC Cricket Schedule

Where can you play Fantasy sports for IPL 2020?

Now that the IPL 2020 date has been announced, get ready as soon all the fantasy gaming portals will start giving you lots of opportunities to play, have fun, and earn money too. Many such fantasy gaming portals host all sorts of IPL cricket matches. Here are some of these portals that you can utilize:

Play IPL 2020 on Dream 11, My11 Circle, My Team 11, Hala play, Fan mojo, and many more.

Who will win the IPL 2020 final in UAE?

IPL 2020 date for the final is set on 10th November 2020. Now I’m not any soothsayer or fortune teller but judging by how this year has shaped our lives, I am expecting the unexpected only. This is because no team will have a home advantage at all. Hence the playing field becomes even.

I guess we will see a new and first time champion between Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

What do you guys think? Who will win the IPL 2020 final in UAE?

La Liga Real Madrid Barcelona next match

La Liga beyond Real Madrid and Barcelona – Possible?

Lancelot Quadras 4 Comments

The La Liga began in 1929 with 10 teams. It was only in the 1997 season that 20 teams played in the league.

With almost 9 decades of experience, the league should have been competitive. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the case. I say this looking at the results for the past 15 years. The results show only Real Madrid and Barcelona as winners and runner ups.

Just imagine the plight of the league where 2 teams decide the fate of the title always. It’s not a good prospect for any player to join another team as the chances of winning reduce.

Yes, Valencia in 2003-04 and Atletico Madrid in 2013-14 did win the league but apart from that the remaining 13 seasons belonged to Barcelona and Real Madrid which brings us to question what is the league beyond these 2 powerhouses?

The answer to this is complicating. You can say money buys good players and hence the league can be won. But Atletico did it with pure talent and not money.

In addition, Barcelona Real Madrid rivalry and head to head is the most sought out match of the La Liga season. There are so much passion and aggression in these matches!

Also, passion for the game always brings out the best in any team. The classic example for this is Leicester City who won the EPL in 2015-16 which was their first time since their 132-year history.

Overall, there are just 3 teams who have been challenging for the top 4 finish like Valencia, Sevilla, and Villareal. If they get some good talent and experienced players, they can surely pull off the invincible. For now, their intent only lies in champions league qualification which is not good for the league’s survival.

The audience loves competition and the attendance will keep dropping if Madrid and Barcelona continue their streak. To conclude, the current La Liga is nothing beyond Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Are you wondering when is the Barcelona Real Madrid next match in the LA Liga?

Then there’s some bad news. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown impact, no football games will take place. Until the situation is contained, the best you can do is watch old Barcelona Real Madrid head to head games!

You can check my content on football here – Quora

Here are my past posts for the A to Z Challenge