IPL 2025: Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting unhappy after mega auction schedule clashes with Perth Test Photograph:( AFP )
The schedule of the IPL 2025 mega auction will coincide with the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Perth, putting key figures like Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer and Daniel Vettori in a state of prioritising commitments over international cricket. While Ponting and Langer will be on commentary duty for the Perth Test before flying for Jeddah, Vettori will have to skip his coaching duties with Australia for the same.
Some of key cricketers are facing jeopardy ahead of this weekend’s Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) mega auction as teams look to shape their squad for the upcoming season. The schedule of the IPL 2025 mega auction will coincide with the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Perth, putting key figures like Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer and Daniel Vettori in a state of prioritising commitments over international cricket. While Ponting and Langer will be on commentary duty for the Perth Test before flying for Jeddah, Vettori will have to skip his coaching duties with Australia for the same.
The trio of Ponting, Langer and Vettori are part of several IPL franchises and will be on the auction table as franchises splash the cash. The former Australia coach, Ponting was appointed as the new head coach of Punjab Kings while Langer will start his second season with Lucknow Super Giants. While Vettori will sit on SunRisers Hyderabad’s auction table.
"It's the worst possible case scenario for me and 'JL'," Ponting said on Wednesday. "We for the last couple of months felt that it was probably going to be in the gap between the Test matches. It takes all the pressure off the players from both teams, there's a lot of players in both teams in the auction.”
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With more than 500 players in the auction pool, franchises will have a chunk of variety to invest in players for the IPL 2025. Punjab Kings will attract a huge interest during the auction with a purse of more than INR 1 billion ($10.3mn). Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have the second highest purse remaining with more than INR 800mn.
The IPL 2025 auction will take place on Sunday and Monday, with big deals expected to go through on the opening day of the auction. Players like KL Rahul, Arshdeep Singh and Shreyas Iyer will be in the pool of big Indian names while Jos Buttler and David Warner will be amongst the top attractions from foreign players.