IPL 2025: Key Takeaways From IPL Franchises And BCCI Meeting
It was a crunch sitting at Wankhede Stadium where owners of IPL franchises sat on Wednesday, 31st July, 2024 to discuss the future of player retention and the highly debated mega auction system. It soon changed into a heated debate regarding the relevance and sustainability of the mega auction, and a huge divide among franchises became evident. Key Figures Raise Their Concerns It was inside a meeting on the fourth floor of the BCCI headquarters that some of the biggest names in the IPL ownership circle lambasted the mega auction. Shah Rukh Khan, owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Kavya Maran were the most vocal against the mega auction, asking for it to be scrapped. Both teams were finalists in the IPL 2024 and hence, the owners argued that the present structure disrupts the continuity of a team, which is a precondition for brand building and the retention of fans’ interest. Tensions Flare Between KKR and PBKS Owners When it came to the process of retention, Shah Rukh Khan, as usual, got highly involved with KKR; an eyewitness said that Shah Rukh Khan was embroiled in a hot debate with Ness Wadia, Punjab Kings co-owner. It would go on to informed discussions, but Wadia later denied any personal vendetta and said all stakeholders’ interests needed to be taken into consideration. “I have known Shah Rukh for over 25 years. There is no animosity here,” said Wadia while outlining a solution fair for all franchises. SRH Supports KKR’s Stance Supporting the stance of KKR, Kavya Maran from SRH opined that smaller auctions perhaps was the way ahead considering the stress it was to have a balanced side with the existing system in place. Using Abhishek Sharma as an example, whose journey to consistency took years, she spoke of a developing story of times and investment required in young talent. Delhi Capitals Opposes To this end, on the other side of this argument, Parth Jindal of Delhi Capitals responded to this by supporting the mega auction. He said, “having a mega auction makes it fair and keeps us competitive“. He further said he did not like the view to have the Impact Player rule continued as it hampers the development of allrounders in Indian cricket. Others on the franchisee level present for the meeting were Kiran Kumar Grandhi of Delhi Capitals, Sanjiv Goenka of Lucknow Super Giants, Rupa Gurunath of Chennai Super Kings, Manoj Badale of Rajasthan Royals and Prathmesh Mishra of Royal Challengers Bangalore. Some, such as Ambanis of Mumbai Indians, used video conferencing. BCCI Responds and the Future Steps Finally, after the deliberations, the BCCI released a statement admitting to the various views expressed by the franchise owners. The Board said that the inputs regarding player regulations and commercial matters, including central merchandising and licensing, would be taken up by the IPL Governing Council and reconsidered. Still Awaiting the Final Verdict As the cricketing world has to now wait and watch for the final decision of the BCCI, the mega auction further does go on to underline the complexities of balancing competition with the business interests for the diverse stakeholders associated with the IPL. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IPL 2025: Here’s What Franchises Proposed Ahead Of 2025 Auction
In a series of feedback sessions with the Indian Premier League (IPL) officials, franchises have suggested several substantial changes to the player retention process, aiming to ensure more stability and strategic depth in team compositions. The next steps will be discussed in an upcoming meeting between IPL officials and franchise representatives, which will take place on 31st of July, 2024. Here are a couple of key suggestions from the franchises. 1. Mega Auction Cycle Change Franchises are advocating for the IPL mega auction to be held once every five years instead of the current three-year cycle. According to a senior franchise official, this change would offer multiple benefits, including the opportunity for teams to build continuity by developing young, especially uncapped Indian players. The longer cycle would incentivize franchises to continue investing in their grassroots academies without the immediate threat of losing nurtured talent to rival teams. 2. Retention and RTM Options Teams have proposed the ability to retain between four and six players, coupled with eight Right-to-Match (RTM) options. One of the franchise CEOs suggested allowing teams to retain one marquee player, such as the captain, with the rest being retained through RTMs, thus letting the market determine player prices and reducing potential dissatisfaction among retained players regarding their monetary value. 3. Salary Renegotiations Another proposal involves allowing franchises to renegotiate player salaries between mega auctions. This would help teams retain their core players and reach better terms with players originally acquired at lower prices. The process would be transparent, with new contracts declared to the IPL, however would be controlled by the franchise without players having the option to be released. Historical Context and Current Challenges Historically, the IPL has conducted mega auctions in four-year cycles twice in the last decade. The first was in 2018, following the 2014 auction and the return of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals from suspension. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2021 mega auction to be deferred by a year, leading to an extension of player contracts. Currently, franchises face challenges with players, particularly those who were uncapped and bought at low prices but have since become maga contributors or international players. These players might prefer re-entering the auction to secure higher contracts, which could be seen as unfair by the franchises that initially identified and developed them. Varied Responses to RTM-Only Proposal One of the franchises has proposed using only RTM options without any direct retentions, providing eight RTM options per team. The idea has received mixed reactions. Some franchises believe it promotes a level playing field, while others fear it could disrupt their auction strategy as rivals might drive up player prices. Focus on Fan Engagement Several franchises stretched on the importance of creating a loyal fan base. With frequent squad overhauls every three years, maintaining fan loyalty becomes challenging. Franchises argue that longer retention periods would help build stronger connections with fans, fostering a sense of loyalty and engagement. IPL officials and franchise representatives are expected to discuss these suggestions in detail in the forthcoming meeting. Other topics likely to be on the agenda include the Impact Player rule, which has received mixed feedback, the purse for the IPL 2025 auction and potential changes to the salary cap deduction for retained players. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Mitchell Starc & Pat Cummins – IPL’s ‘Big Bucks’ Success Theory
In December 2023 at the IPL auction, the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders broke the bank for Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Combined, the Australian duo was sold for Rs 45.25 Crore. First, the Australian Captain was bought for Rs 20.50 Crore. A few moments later, KKR steamrolled the remaining nine franchises, to bag Starc’s services for a mammoth Rs 24.50 Crore. Back then, even after making such extravagant bids, many- including fellow team owners, media and fans weren’t sure of such costly buys. Now, after the IPL 2024 is over, with KKR lifting the title, the two most costliest players in IPL history, are the ones standing tall. The Big Bucks Theory Right since the beginning of the IPL, there has been a notion, that big bucks can be a distraction for top players. There have been examples like Andrew Flintoff (CSK-2009), Yuvraj Singh (Delhi-2015), and Chris Morris (Rajasthan – 2021), who failed to live up to expectations. The pressure was on both Starc and Cummins. The limelight was always going to be on them – be it success or failure. Both the Aussies had a dream IPL, individually and as a team. Starc produced 17 wickets from 14 matches. This was after going through a lull period in the first half of the tournament. Like the big players often do, they step up when the team needs them the most. The left-arm pacer produced a dream spell, first in qualifier 1 picking up three wickets, and then in the final, picking up two wickets. His spell determined the fate of both these games. In both these big games, Starc was named as the player of the match. Talking about Pat Cummins, the all-rounder did some heavy lifting right through the IPL 2024. He is the fulcrum around which Sunrisers Hyderabad’s ship floated, from game number one. Talking of numbers, he finished with 18 wickets from 16 matches and also played useful cameos with the bat. Most importantly, Cummins led the team superbly, on and off the pitch. Fittingly, his team played the final. Both Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc have proved that money might not always be a big distraction, for players. If you are as talented and committed as the Australian pace duo, then there’s no need to worry. With the mega auction coming up, expect the remaining teams to take a leaf out of KKR and SRH books, and target specific players, no matter, what price they come at. Maybe the Big Bucks Theory is likely to stay for a few more seasons. Also Read: IPL or T20 World Cup winners – who get a bigger paycheque? Life comes a full circle for Starc and Cummins He first posed with Rohit Sharma and the World Cup trophy at Adalaj Stepwells in Ahmedabad. Then, he had a modeling session with Kraigg Brathwaite at Adelaide Oval, flipping sunglasses like teenagers. Recently, Pat Cummins had a photoshoot with Shreyas Iyer and the IPL trophy at Marina Beach, posing with an autorickshaw. He’s made all these poses work without any fuss, both on and off the field, as Sunrisers Hyderabad captain. Mitchell Starc isn’t into posing much but has performed well on the field. He returned to the IPL after nine years and had a standout 2024 season. No one could imagine, Starc finishing as a winning member of the IPL winning team, and playing a major role in that too. Cummins has had a big impact on Hyderabad’s performance, leading them from the bottom to the top of the table. He’s created a positive environment for the team and contributed crucial overs in matches. Despite not being a T20 specialist or having prior captaincy experience in T20, Cummins was a strategic pick for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Starc, on the other hand, had limited T20 experience but was a sought-after player at the auction due to his international reputation. Gautam Gambhir’s decision to splurge truckloads of money on Starc has finally paid rich dividends. Kolkata Knight Riders played like invincible and rightfully deserve to be the IPL 2024 champions. SRH fans are expectedly disappointed, but the brand of cricket they played right through the season, has caught everyone’s attention. In the IPL, every era is dominated by players from respective countries. Maybe Aussie domination in the IPL has just begun, thanks to the Big Bucks Theory.
IPL 2024 Playoffs: SRH or RR – Who has the ‘Chepauk’ advantage ahead of Qualifier 2?
The clock is ticking, both for the Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The mood in both camps is exactly the opposite. Rajasthan defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 4 wickets in the eliminator in Ahmedabad. For Hyderabad, the Narendra Modi Stadium didn’t reap rich dividends. The Orange Army suffered a hammering from the Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets. Now the IPL 2024 caravan moves to the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This is where Qualifier 2 and the Final will be played. The Chepauk, as fans call it, is home to the Chennai Super Kings. However, this season, the CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs. Both the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals have the experience of playing at the Chepauk in the IPL. However, this would be the first time both teams would take on each other at the venue. SRH or RR – Who has the Chepauk Advantage? When it comes to the IPL, both Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals have a poor record at the Chepauk. Understandably so, given that the Chennai Super Kings have been so dominant at home. Rajasthan Royals’ latest win at the Chepauk came in IPL 2023 when they defeated Chennai by 3 runs. Their only other win against Chennai came way back in 2008 by 10 runs. Also Read: SRH or RR – Who Has More Wins in Qualifier 2 Matches? Sunrisers Hyderabad’s record is even worse than Rajasthan Royals. They have never managed to beat Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk. Their only win at the venue has come against Punjab Kings by 9 wickets in IPL 2021. IPL Record at Chepauk Team Matches Won Lost Rajasthan Royals 09 02 07 Sunrisers Hyderabad 10 01 09 Both the skippers – Sanju Samson and Pat Cummins know they have an uphill task at Chepauk on Friday. This is a must-win contest for both teams, but unfortunately, there will be only one winner. The added motivation is that the winner will better their record at Chepauk, in addition to booking their tickets for the IPL 2024 Final.
IPL 2024 Playoffs: SRH or RR – Who Has More Wins in Qualifier 2 Matches?
Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 will see table-topper Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) go head-to-head against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on May 24th, Friday at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Pat Cummins’ Sunrisers Hyderabad head into the contest on the back of a thumping eight-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in the Qualifier 1, while Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals are fresh from a four-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Eliminator. Ahead of their clash, here’s a look at the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs the Rajasthan Royals head-to-head records in Qualifier 2. SRH’S QUALIFIER 2 RECORD IN IPL Before this season, the Sunrisers Hyderabad have managed to enter the Qualifier 2 of the IPL thrice. The Orange Army played the Qualifier 2 fixture in IPL 2016, IPL 2018 and in IPL 2020. Out of which they have managed to win twice; in 2016 and in 2018 and have faced defeat once; in 2020. SRH’S QUALIFIER 2 RECORD IN IPL SEASON OPPONENT RESULT 2016 Gujarat Lions SRH won by 4 wickets 2018 Kolkata Knight Riders SRH won by 14 runs 2020 Delhi Capitals DC won by 17 runs The Sunrisers Hyderabad would be entering the IPL 2024 Qualifier 2 with a 66.67% Qualifier 2 win record. On the other side is the Sanju Samson led Rajasthan Royals. The Royals have made it to the IPl Qualifier 2 twice; in 2013 against the Mumbai Indians and in 2022 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, formerly known as the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The Rajasthan Royals couldn’t do much in the 2013 Qualifier 2 against MI but managed to win in the 2022 Qualifier 2 against RCB. RR’S QUALIFIER 2 RECORD IN IPL SEASON OPPONENT RESULT 2013 Mumbai Indians MI won by 4 wickets 2022 Royal Challengers Bengaluru RR won by 7 wickets The Rajasthan Royals would be taking on the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Qualifier 2 with a 50% win record in IPL Qualifier 2 games so far. This gives Pat Cummins and his Orange Army an upper hand entering the much-awaited contest. Both SRH and RR will look to get one step closer to lifting their second title when the two sides cross paths in their 19th meeting in IPL and their first clash in Chennai. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye.
IPL 2024 Final: KKR vs SRH Chennai Weather Forecast: Will IPL 2024 Final be washed out due to rain?
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Final will be held at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will lock horns for the coveted prize. Before these two strong teams, led by Shreyas Iyer (KKR) and Pat Cummins (SRH), face off, how’s the weather looking like in Chennai for the big day. Also Read: T20 WC Winners vs IPL Winners – Who gets a bigger paycheque? What are the worst-case scenarios? How the match results can change due to rain? IPL 2024 has already seen multiple games disrupted or canceled due to bad weather. WEATHER PREDICTIONS – IPL 2024 FINALUnpleasant weather wasn’t a hindrance during the IPL 2024 Qualifier 2 between the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Rajasthan Royals. However, a dangerous cyclone named Remal is forming in the Bay of Bengal. Cyclone Remal is currently about 1500 km east of Chennai. It is expected to move northward, meaning it won’t directly threaten Chennai. However, Chennai might still feel some effects from the cyclone, with the sky being cloudy and light scattered rain likely on the day of IPL 2024 Final. There is a 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms in Chennai on Saturday, which could be challenging for the ground staff. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE IPL 2024 FINAL – KKR VS SRH IS CANCELED DUE TO RAIN?The BCCI has already planned for a reserve day for the IPL 2024 Final. If bad weather interrupts the match on Sunday and it can’t continue, the game will restart on Monday, even if some overs were already played. The scheduled day’s match time can be extended by up to 120 minutes to complete the game. So, if you thought KKR might automatically win if it rains on Sunday because they topped the table, that’s not the case. It wouldn’t be fair since both KKR and SRH have worked hard over the two-month-long season and deserve a fair chance in the final. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE RESERVE DAY OF THE IPL 2024 FINAL – KKR VS SRH ALSO GETS CANCELED DUE TO RAIN?If a complete match can’t happen even on the reserve day, the team with the most points at the end of the league stage will be declared the winner. In that case, Shreyas Iyer and his Kolkata Knight Riders would be declared as the IPL 2024 Champions. As of now, no rain is predicted during the IPL 2024 Final. Both KKR and SRH fans would be hoping for Rain Gods to stay away from the match. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye.
IPL 2024, Qualifier 2: Have SRH & RR met in a knockout game before?
Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals are all set to lock horns in the IPL 2024 Qualifier 2 in Chennai on Friday. The winner of the match will go on to face Kolkata Knight Riders at the Chepauk on Sunday, May 26th. Rajasthan and Hyderabad would have that one last chance to keep their hopes of winning the IPL 2024 title alive. While Hyderabad suffered a defeat at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 1, Rajasthan on the other hand ousted Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 4 wickets in Ahmedabad. Have SRH & RR met in an IPL knockout match before? Both Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad have taken on each other only once in an IPL knockout match in history. The year was 2013, also the same season, when Hyderabad was re-introduced into the IPL. In the eliminator, played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Rajasthan Royals defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 4 wickets, in a nail-biting finish in the last over. Former Australian batter Brad Hodge was named as the player of the match. IPL 2024 would be the first time in over a decade that both these sides will be locking horns against on each other in a knockout match. Also Read: Virat Kohli’s Report Card in IPL Knockouts Playoffs Record Let’s take the Rajasthan Royals first. The team from the land of Marwar are also the inaugural champions of the IPL, way back in 2008. When the playoffs were introduced in 2011, Rajasthan made it to the knockouts on four occasions. Rajasthan’s Record in Playoffs Season Opponent Stage Result 2013 Mumbai Indians Qualifier 2 Lost by 4 wickets 2015 Royal Challengers Bengaluru Eliminator Lost by 71 runs 2018 Kolkata Knight Riders Eliminator Lost by 25 runs 2022 Gujarat Titans Final Lost by 7 wickets – Runners-up Rajasthan Royals has been an inconsistent side when it comes to featuring in the playoffs. In the last 11 seasons, RR has managed to book just four playoff berths. The closest they came to lifting the IPL trophy was in 2022, but they lost to a resurgent Gujarat Titans led by Hardik Pandya. Sunrisers Hyderabad, rebranded and reintroduced in 2013, the Orange Army has made it to the Playoffs on six occasions, excluding the ongoing 2024 season. SRH Record in Playoffs Season Opponent Stage Result 2013 Rajasthan Royals Eliminator Lost by 4 wickets 2016 Royal Challengers Bengaluru Final Won by 8 runs – Champions 2017 Kolkata Knight Riders Eliminator Lost by 7 wickets 2018 Chennai Super Kings Final Lost by 8 wickets – Runners up 2019 Delhi Capitals Eliminator Lost by 2 wickets 2020 Delhi Capitals Qualifier 2 Lost by 17 runs Sunrisers Hyderabad has a mixed record in the Playoffs. They have lost three Eliminators in the past, and a qualifier-2 to Delhi Capitals in the 2020 season. However, the Orange Army emerged champions in the 2016 season, and lost to Chennai Super Kings in the final, a couple of years later. H2H Record in IPL There is very little to choose from both sides regarding the overall Head-To-Head record. Both the teams have taken on each other 19 times in the IPL before the Qualifier 2 in Chennai. Hyderabad has won 10 matches, while Rajasthan has 9 victories in their pocket. SRH vs RR – The last meeting Both Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals met once in IPL 2024. The match was a humdinger, with Hyderabad winning the match by just one run, on their home turf. SRH veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the hero for the local team with three wickets. There is very little to choose between these two top teams in the IPL, going into Qualifier 2. Only one team’s dream of winning the IPL title will stay alive, while for the loser, this will again be a case of so near, yet so far. Who will be the one smiling on Friday?
