Proven track record keeps demand high
Dhoni is the main focus as two new IPL teams vie for stars from suspended Chennai and Rajasthan
MUMBAI: As the two new franchises gear up to sink their teeth in the Indian Premier League, Tuesday will make it clear who the biggest of them all, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, is going to turn up for.
As the two new teams—new Rising, owner of the Pune franchise and Intex, of the Rajkot franchise—start to build from a collective pool of 50 players, the draft is expected to throw up a mix from the suspended Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
The two teams will take turns to pick their first five players in the draft. The remaining 45 will go into the pool and make themselves available when the auction takes place in February. Each team is allowed to pick a maximum of four capped Indian players on Tuesday in the draft.
As the lowest bidder in the reverse bidding process held on December 8, New Rising will be entitled to the first pick. The teams will go sequentially and complete the purchase of 10 players. With a maximum purse of ₹66 crore available for each team, for the draft and auction put together, there is a distant possibility that Pune and Rajkot may not go for their full quota of five in the draft.
GRADED PRICING
As per the price band marked out for buying the five players --- as was the case previously --the first player gets ₹12.5 crore, the second ₹9.5 crore, third ₹7.5 crore, fourth ₹5.5 crore and the fifth ₹4 crore. In the event of an uncapped player being picked, he too will have to be paid R4 crore, according to a clause in the draft.
Though it appears a foregone conclusion, Dhoni’s pick will be the main attraction at the draft and it seems an easy guess that the Pune franchise will go for the India limited-overs skipper first up. There is an overwhelming sense within the two IPL teams as well as players who are about to be picked that they are likely to get amounts over and above their draft price. That is an unwritten rule in the IPL with franchises secretly paying more than the official price the players have commanded.
Dhoni retired from Test cricket early this year and has not played those typically electrifying knocks he is renowned for in a while. However, he still brings a lot to the table thanks to his stature as captain and as a prime brand that can bring in support for the newcomers. Regardless of speculation around his retirement from the limited-overs formats as well, Dhoni is a wholesome package that will be irresistible for any team.
The draft picks are likely to be heavily loaded with CSK stars. Besides Dhoni, R Ashwin, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Brendon Mccullum, Faf du Plessis and Dwayne Bravo were all with the Chennai franchise. Players who belonged to RR that are likely to be sought after are Ajinkya Rahane, Steven Smith and Shane Watson.