BCCI plans to postpone IPL mega auction: Reports

The BCCI has, reportedly, planned to shelve the IPL mega auctions, which were to be held ahead of the 2021 edition.

With the COVID-19 situation not relenting in the country and the franchises busy with the preparations for the 13th edition of the tournament which will only get over by November 10, there will not be enough time to prepare for a grand auction. Not to forget, the BCCI might have to hold two IPL seasons under six months. 

According to a report in The Times of India, all eight franchises would be expected to continue with their current squads. 

"What's the point in doing a mega auction now and not have enough time to plan it properly? IPL might as well go ahead and finish the 2021 edition of the tournament and then see how it wants to go about," a source told TOI.

The franchises are also learnt to have agreed with the board’s considering the gap between IPL 2020 and the start of IPL 2021 is just four and a half months. The franchises ideally need 3-4 months to get their strategies in place for a mega auction.

Right now, the focus of the board and the franchises is to conduct the upcoming season smoothly in the UAE. Post the IPL, the BCCI will also have to formulate a plan to squeeze in the national team’s fixtures which have been postponed due to the pandemic.