On Monday, February 20 attention will shift to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Bengaluru where the 2017 Indian Premier League auction of cricket players from around the world will take place.
All eyes on auctioneer Richard Madley, popularly referred to in cricket circles as the Hammerman as he presides over bids and bargains by eight participating IPL franchisees.
According to the reporters this year’s auction will attract more interest as eight England cricketers- Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow, Alex Hales, Eoin Morgan, Jason Roy, Chris Jordan and Tymal Mills are among the 352 players who have placed themselves up for auction among the eight franchises that will take part in the seven-week tournament that starts from April 5.
Players who have been involved with the IPL auctions since 2008 has acquired a good reputation for increasing the incomes of cricketers the world over, and speculation is rife that Stokes may end up being the next IPL cricketer millionaire.
59 yr old ‘Madley’ will be taking part in his 10th IPL auction and with an expected television audience of more than 120 million, he could end up providing a huge income boost for 28 of the 121 overseas players that will make the grade.
Stokes and Woakes are in the highest bracket of Rs.2 crores as is Morgan. Bairstow will start at Rs. 1.5 crores as Alex Hales and his international opening partner Roy begin at Rs. 1 crore.
Reputation has soared during England’s winter tour of India, and the best-placed Englishman after him is probably Twenty20 Mills who comes in with a fixed price of Rs.50 lakh.
