Former England captain Michael Vaughan has ignited a heated debate surrounding the scheduling of the IPL 2025 mega auction. The auction is scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25, which directly conflicts with the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, beginning on November 22 in Perth.
IPL 2025 mega auction to clash with Border-Gavaskar Trophy's opening Test
The IPL 2025 mega auction will clash with the crucial third and fourth days of the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Michael Vaughan has criticized the BCCI for scheduling the auction during the Test series, particularly considering the involvement of Indian and Australian players in both events.
While the auction will commence after the day's play in Perth, Vaughan remains concerned about the potential distractions it may cause for Indian players, especially those who are likely to be highly sought-after in the auction, such as Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj. He believes that the scheduling could negatively impact the players' focus and performance in the Test series.
Vaughan expressed concern that Indian players might be tempted to keep an eye on the IPL auction while competing in the first Test. He believes that the close proximity of the auction to the Test series could potentially distract players and hinder their focus on the game.
Vaughan also questioned the BCCI's decision to schedule the auction so close to the first Test, particularly considering the gap between the first and second Tests. This gap could have been utilized for better preparation or recovery for the players.
Vaughan suggested that the IPL 2025 mega auction could have been rescheduled to take place after the Perth Test and before the Adelaide Test. This would have allowed players to fully concentrate on the crucial opening Test without any distractions. He criticized the BCCI's decision to schedule the auction during the Test series, calling it 'ridiculous'.
I think it’s ridiculous: Michael Vaughan on scheduling of IPL 2025 auction
“I don’t agree with the fact that they put the IPL auction in the middle of the first Test. . We’ve got a nine-day break in between the first and the second (tests). Why they’re putting it there when you know the players are under pressure playing in a test match, why they’d want to sway the profile of that test match onto an IPL auction in Saudi, I’m not too sure,” Michael Vaughan was quoted as saying by Codesports.
The tight scheduling of the IPL 2025 mega auction is not only affecting players but also impacting key coaching personnel. Daniel Vettori, the head coach of the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Australia's bowling coach, has decided to prioritise attending the auction in Jeddah. Cricket Australia has approved his decision, and Vettori is expected to rejoin the Australian team immediately after the auction. Similarly, former Australian cricketers Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer have also opted to attend the mega auction, skipping their commentary commitments. Their decision highlights the significance and allure of the IPL auction, which has attracted global attention.
