IPL Auction 2025: James Anderson finally reveals why he registered for the Mega Auction
Published - 08 Nov 2024, 11:47 AM | Updated - 08 Nov 2024, 11:39 PM
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England's legendary fast bowler James Anderson has unexpectedly entered the IPL 2025 mega auction at the age of 42. He is the most surprising name on the 1574-player list for the upcoming mega auction revealed by the BCCI on November 5.
The legendary fast bowler set his base price at INR 1.25 crore. Well, Anderson’s decision to enter the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction has stunned the fans and cricket experts as he officially retired from international cricket earlier this year.
James Anderson registers for IPL 2025 Mega Auction, excited for new challenges
James Anderson is currently serving as England’s bowling coach, but now he aims for his IPL debut—a prospect he never pursued in his long and storied career. Despite his illustrious Test career, Anderson has played only 19 T20 international matches for England between 2007 and 2009.
Anderson's last T20 match dates back to 2014 with Warwickshire. Yet, the Englishman believes that the IPL experience would offer an invaluable opportunity to enhance his coaching skills by playing in the world’s biggest T20 extravaganza.
Despite retiring from international cricket earlier this year, Anderson feels there's more he can contribute to the game as a player. Having never played in the IPL, the legendary England bowler is eager to embrace the tournament’s intensity and test his skills in a completely new environment that he never experienced.
I have more to give as a player to the game: James Anderson
James Anderson said in a BBC Radio 4 Today podcast: “There is still definitely something in me that thinks like I can still play. I have never done the IPL; I have never experienced it, and I think for a number of reasons I feel like I have more to give as a player.”
Well, this isn’t merely a chance to take on a new challenge for Anderson, but a valuable opportunity to immerse himself in the tactical nuances of T20 cricket. Entered the IPL auction for the first time in his career, Anderson believes that the IPL is the perfect platform to broaden his understanding of the shorter format and sharpen his strategic insight.
James Anderson seeks IPL debut to boost coaching expertise
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Anderson wants to sharpen his understanding of T20 strategies and techniques to bring back to his coaching role. He feels the IPL experience could prove transformative for him, offering him deeper insights into T20 dynamics and that knowledge he aims to bring back to his coaching roles and to share with future generations.
He signed off by saying, “I have done a little bit of coaching since I have finished in the summer. I have been around the England team doing a bit of mentoring, or whatever you like to call it. I just think opening my eyes to something like that and experiencing it sort of might help me grow my knowledge of the game and help further down the line.”
With the IPL 2025 mega auction scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, the former England pacer’s unexpected bid has intensified buzz about which IPL franchise might take a chance on his wealth of experience and expertise for the next IPL 2025 season.
