The Indian Premier League (IPL) has become one of the most popular cricket leagues in the world. It brings together the best players from around the globe, giving them a chance to showcase their talents and compete against each other in a fast-paced and exciting format. And the key to this successful tournament lies in its player auction.
The IPL auctions are always highly anticipated and often create a buzz among fans and players alike. It is a platform where players can earn big bucks and teams can build a strong squad. The last concluded IPL auction was held in Dubai back in November 2023, and it proved to be yet another entertaining and eventful event.
The auction was originally scheduled to take place in Goa, but due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it was shifted to Dubai. This decision was taken keeping in mind the safety and health of all the stakeholders involved. Despite the change in location, the auction went on smoothly, and some interesting signings were made by the eight participating teams.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at all the IPL auction venues so far.
1. Goa (2008-2020):
The first-ever IPL auction was held in Goa in 2008. It was a historic moment for Indian cricket as it marked the beginning of the highly successful T20 league. Top players like MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, and Sachin Tendulkar were snapped up by different franchises at the auction. Goa hosted all the auctions till 2020, and it witnessed some huge bids and intense bidding wars between teams.
2. Bengaluru (2021):
After 13 years of being held in Goa, the IPL auction moved to Bengaluru in 2021. The Garden City of India welcomed the auction with open arms and witnessed some big-money signings. The likes of Chris Morris and Kyle Jamieson became the most expensive players in the history of IPL auctions. The Royal Challengers Bangalore splurged a whopping 15 crore on Jamieson, while Morris was snapped up by the Rajasthan Royals for 16.25 crore.
3. Chennai (2022):
Chennai, known as the ‘cricket capital’ of India, was the venue for the IPL auction in 2022. The city has a rich cricketing culture and has produced several top players for the Indian team. It was no surprise that the auction in Chennai was a huge success. Some big names like Glenn Maxwell, Jofra Archer, and Chris Gayle were bought by different franchises at the event. Chennai once again proved to be a perfect setting for the IPL auction.
4. Dubai (2023):
Due to the pandemic, the IPL auction was held in Dubai in 2023. It faced some challenges with the change in location, but it was a successful event nonetheless. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium, one of the most picturesque grounds in the world, hosted the auction. It was a treat for fans to see their favorite players being bought by their favorite teams against the backdrop of the iconic Dubai skyline.
The 2023 auction saw some major changes in the squads, with teams looking to strengthen their line-ups. The five-time champions, Mumbai Indians, once again displayed their dominance in the auction room, making some smart purchases. They splurged a whopping 20 crore on Indian all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, making him the most expensive player of the 2023 auction.
Apart from Mumbai Indians, the Chennai Super Kings also had a good auction, picking up some quality players to add depth to their squad. The Punjab Kings, formerly known as Kings XI Punjab, made some surprising picks, including the multi-talented player, Shahrukh Khan. It was also heartening to see young Indian players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, and Yashasvi Jaiswal being signed by different teams, showing the depth of talent in Indian cricket.
The Kings XI Punjab, now Punjab Kings, also made headlines by buying the South African all-rounder, Chris Morris, for a whopping 16.25 crore. This made him the most expensive player of the 2023 auction, surpassing his record from the previous year. Another interesting purchase was made by the Rajasthan Royals, who spent 14 crore on their new skipper, Sanju Samson, making him the highest-paid Indian player of the auction.
The IPL auctions have not only been a platform
