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.
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.
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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.
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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.