The IPL 2027 player auction is set to return to India after the recent practice of conducting the event overseas. The decision was taken at the Governing Council meeting on September 15. It will be a mini-auction, while the following year’s mega auction could once again be staged outside India, according to sources familiar with the developments.
The move follows concerns raised by IPL franchises about the practical difficulties involved in sending their teams and delegations abroad for a relatively smaller auction. The BCCI is understood to have taken those concerns into consideration after the previous auction in Abu Dhabi. The auction was last held in India in Kochi in 2023. Dubai, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi subsequently hosted the event.
Meanwhile, the venue for the 2027 auction has not yet been selected. The availability of suitable accommodation will be a key consideration, particularly because the event is expected to take place during India’s wedding season between October and December. As per reports, the BCCI will need more than 100 rooms for franchise delegations for a couple of nights. The availability of five-star hotels in potential host cities will therefore play a major role in determining the location.
In the meantime, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal said the BCCI plans to host the auction in India but has faced difficulties in finding a suitable venue during the busy wedding period so far.
"Every year we try for this to happen in India, but we don't get the venue given the heavy marriage season. So, we definitely want it to be here this year, given that it would be a smaller auction and hopefully we will get the venue,” Dhumal, who is set to be re-elected as IPL chairman during the BCCI AGM on September 18, told PTI.
What’s the future of Impact Player rule?
The Governing Council also discussed the future of the Impact Player rule but stopped short of reaching a final decision. Another meeting is expected in about a month, when the matter will be revisited.
Most franchises are understood to be against the continuation of the rule, although some believe it could remain for another season. Those teams have argued that their squad-building decisions were made with the rule in place and that removing it could be considered next year. Dhumal said the BCCI would consult stakeholders before deciding the issue.
“The matter is under discussion. Will take a feedback from all the stakeholders and then take a call on this,” Dhumal added.
With inputs from PTI
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