IPL Auction 2025: Michael Vaughan blasts BCCI's decision to clash auction with Perth Test

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has sparked a fiery debate over the scheduling of the highly anticipated IPL 2025 mega auction ahead of the first Test of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between Australia and India in Perth.

The IPL 2025 mega auction is set to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25, and this much-awaited event clashes directly with the high-voltage five-match Test series opener between Australia and India at the Optus Stadium in Perth, starting on Friday, November 22.

Michael Vaughan blasts BCCI for IPL 2025 Mega Auction clash With Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 opener

The mega auction clashes with the third and fourth days of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 opener in Perth, and Michael Vaughan slammed the BCCI for deliberately scheduling the event during the first Test despite the players from both India and Australia going under the hammer in Jeddah.

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However, the auction will begin after the play in Perth, but Vaughan is concerned about its impact on Indian players involved in both the Test and the two-day event in Jeddah. A number of Indian stars are expected to be hot properties in the IPL 2025 mega auction, including Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj, and Vaughan believes the scheduling could create unnecessary distractions for the players.

The former England captain feels the Indian players might have one eye on the high-stakes bidding war in Jeddah instead of focusing solely on the first Test against Australia. Vaughan also criticized the BCCI for overlooking the gap between the first Test in Perth and the second in Adelaide, which is scheduled for December 6.

I think it’s ridiculous: Michael Vaughan on IPL 2025 Mega Auction scheduling

The cricket pundit suggested the mega auction could have been easily staged after the Perth Test and before the Adelaide encounter to ensure the players' focus remained intact for the crucial Test series opener at the Optus Stadium. He slammed the “ridiculous” scheduling of the auction by the BCCI.

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Michael Vaughan was quoted as saying by Codesports: “I don’t agree with the fact that they put the IPL auction in the middle of the first Test. I think it’s ridiculous. We’ve got a nine-day break in between the first and the second (tests). Why they’re putting it there when you know the players are under pressure playing in a test match, why they’d want to sway the profile of that test match onto an IPL auction in Saudi, I’m not too sure.”

Daniel Vettori to leave Australia in the middle of the Perth Test

Not only the players who are likely to be impacted by the debatable scheduling of the IPL 2025 mega auction but also a few other big names. Daniel Vettori, Australia's bowling coach and head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has decided to prioritize attending the IPL 2025 auction in Riyadh.

Vettori’s decision is supported by Cricket Australia (CA), as the New Zealand legend is expected to rejoin the Australian side right after the mega auction. Similarly, former Australian cricketers Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer are also set to be part of the high-profile event, skipping commentary duty.