IPL 2021: Date announced for player retention and mini IPL auction

 

Photo: BCCI

The auction and the trade window are pivotal for setting the right balance for any IPL team before each season. In a virtual meeting held on January 4^th the IPL governing council has decided to allow teams to prepare their retention list for the upcoming season till January 21. It is also decided that the mini IPL auction prior to the 2021 edition will take place on February 11^th.

Player retention, mini-auction dates announced

Photo: BCCI

The recent success of hosting the IPL 2020 in the middle of a pandemic has given the BCCI the confidence to stage the next season of the mega event in its usual time. Unlike the 2020 season, the upcoming season will go as planned in the April-May window. As a result, the dates of all those events that happen prior to the tournament have been finalized. The IPL governing council met via a virtual meeting on January 4^th and decided that the teams can extend up to January 21^st to prepare their final retention list. The upcoming season will be an 8 team tournament itself and teams can retain as many players from their squads as they can.

Earlier there were reports that the 2021 season will have 10 teams and will be preceded by a mega auction etc. But the lack of time to look into those things has made the BCCI go ahead with the 8 team format for 2021 once again. This season will have a mini-auction as usual and the date for that is finalized to be February 11^th. On the other hand, the 2022 season will have 10 teams and will also have a mega auction prior to that.

India the first preference for hosting IPL 2021, UAE named the backup

The IPL GC also decided that India would be the first choice for hosting the IPL 2021. The upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament will be closely monitored and if that is staged successfully, then IPL 2021 will be held in India for sure. But if that’s not the case, United Arab Emirates who hosted the IPL 2020 will once again host IPL 2021.