IPL 2021 Auction Date and Time, IPL 2021 Full Schedule, IPL 2021 Venue
IPL Auctions. Credit: Twitter

The 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction is scheduled for 18th February in Chennai, as announced on Wednesday (January 27). The auction for the 14th edition of the cash-rich league will be a mini-auction, instead of a previously expected mega-auction – this decision was taken due to the lack of time between the last season and the upcoming season due to the covid-19 pandemic for preparation for the franchises.

While the IPL 2020 was successfully conducted in the UAE – in the cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah – however, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is keen on organizing the tournament this year in India.

Nothing has been finalized yet about the venues for the tournament – lack of confirmation of venues means the franchises have to be shrewd while building their squads.

NZCPA, Heath Mills, IPL Auction, IPL 11, New Zealand, Peter Clinton, Cricket Wellington, IPL
IPL auction. Photo Credit: IPL.

All 8 franchises have announced their released and retentions for the IPL 2021

About a week ago, all 8 teams have announced the list of the released and retentions players for the upcoming tournament. David Warner-led Sunrisers Hyderabad has retained 22 players, the most, while Royal Challengers Bangalore kept only 12 from their last season squad; the Virat Kohli-led outfit has also traded in all-rounders, Daniel Sams and Harshal Patel from last season’s runners-up, Delhi Capitals.

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Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Chris Morris, and Aaron Finch are the big names to be released and will once again be auctioned while Lasith Malinga has retired from the franchise cricket after pulling out of the tournament last season due to personal reasons. After letting Steve Smith go, Rajasthan Royals have put Kerala captain, Sanju Samson at the helm.

Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians with the IPL 2020 Trophy (Credits: Twitter/IPL)

Kings XI Punjab will enter the auction with the biggest purse having released 9 players including previous auction’s expensive picks Glenn Maxwell and Sheldon Cottrell.

Defending champions, and 5-time IPL title holders Mumbai Indians have released all but Trent Boult from their overseas fast-bowling cartel. The Rohit Sharma-led outfit indeed has retained 10 of the 11 players which won the final against Delhi.

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