New management confident about auctions despite uncertainties
NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League teams this season head into the December 18 players auction in Jaipur with some anxiety. The IPL being played ahead of the 2019 World Cup in England means international stars will not be available for the entire duration as national team managements look to manage the workload of their key players.
That will impact the choice of players IPL franchise bosses pick up. Besides, the upcoming 2019 general election can also force either the entire tournament or part of it to be played abroad, where conditions could be different.
Delhi Capitals’ new chairman, JSW Sport’s Parth Jindal said the franchise hopes to get the right players. In the past, players bought at the auction have not delivered in more than one season. Injuries have hit the team, especially Kevin Pietersen, while Gautam Gambhir dropped out after repeatedly failing last season. Some of the purchases have also paled compared to the smart work done by other teams, particularly CSK.
Delhi are confident the fat purse left after retaining 14 players will help. “We have had projections made on the players who will be available,” Jindal said.
Teams have also been updated on the World Cup situation. “We know Australia and England players will leave on May 1. Most of the others will be available, but Virat Kohli wants India bowlers to be rested. Luckily, we don’t have any of them.” clock 3:24 seconds at the World Relays, the time clocked by the USA team in the previous edition of World Relays. The federation’s logic is based on the fact that Hima Das and Anjali Devi have the potential to run below 51 secs, while Aishwarya Mishra and VK Vismaya can go below 52 secs.
“If our team achieves that target, we can hope for a good show in 2020 Olympics,” he added. India’s seventh-place finish, with a time of 3:26.89 during 2004 Athens Olympics, is the best ever. The target for the men’s 4x400m relay team is 3:00 minutes.
Hima is also being tipped for podium at the Worlds in September.
“We think she has the potential to break 50 sec. If she does, we can also hope for an individual 400m medal,” the coach added.
THE AFI’S 2019 ROADMAP FORBIDS ‘OLYMPIC HOPEFULS’ FROM LEAVING THE NATIONAL CAMP FOR LONG PERIODS FOR AD CAMPAIGNS