Due to the IPL 2025 auction, former Australian cricketers Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer are likley to be unable to commentate on the opening Test of the forthcoming five-match Test series between India and Australia. Notably, the first Test match between India and Australia is scheduled to start on November 22 and the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. However, this won't just affect the commentary team, as Australia coach Daniel Vettori will likely be unavailable for the opening game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy too.
IPL Auction over Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Ponting, the head coach of the Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Langer, the head coach of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), are probably going to be with their respective IPL teams to plan their strategy for the mega auction. In addition, Daniel Vettori, the head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad and Australia's assistant coach, is probably going to travel to Jeddah for the T20 extravaganza's bidding event.
According to Australian newspaper 'The Age', "Channel Seven could be without Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer for parts of the Perth Test due to a clash of commitments, and Australia may lose a vital backroom coach for the start of the blockbuster Border-Gavaskar series in a potential stand-off with Indian cricket."
In 2023, Ponting, who was coaching the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the time, left after the third day of the Perth Test to go to the auction. However, Vettori fulfilled his obligations with Australia before departing for the auction, which took place two days after the Perth Test concluded, whereas Langer stayed until the end of the match.
The Age added that there was still no decision on whether Vettori would leave early for the auction or remain with the team for the duration of the Test. Together with Andre Borovec, Vettori was named Australia's assistant coach in May 2022.
A total of 1,574 players have registered themselves in the IPL 2025 mega auction pool and among them 409 players from overseas. There are only 204 spots available across ten franchises, since each team is allowed to assemble a squad of 25 players. The bidding event will see a number of well-known players, including Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, James Anderson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jofra Archer, and Kagiso Rabada, among others, go under the hammer as teams compete to include them in their squads.
