‘Baffling and outdated’: Two-time IPL winner urges BCCI to scrap auctions, suggests 'should be 6-month league'

Two-time IPL winner urges BCCI to scrap auctions

Robin Uthappa, former India cricketer, proposed that the Indian Premier League (IPL) abandon the idea of auctions in favor of "trade windows" that are available all year long, along with a draft system. Talking on his YouTube channel, Uthappa said that the league ought to become a "six-month league" instead of a two-and-a-half-month league.

The two-time IPL champion shared his opinions on how the most popular T20 competition could evolve. Uthappa amassed 4,952 runs in 205 IPL games, which includes a 660-run Orange Cap campaign.

"They are not taking it beyond the start-up stage. It is baffling. You are the leading cricket league in the world. Mature now. Just get on with it. Stop with the auctions and keep the trade window open throughout the year. Have a draft and get rid of the auctions. For crying out loud, get rid of the auctions. I have been saying this even when I was playing," Uthappa said.

"They are not going beyond the entertainment mindset, for TV. Even a draft can be great TV. You will get your fans engaging and create fan loyalty. Just get it going. I think it should be like a six-month league. You can have international fixtures in between. It has to evolve," he added.

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The IPL auction will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16. Prior to the auction, one of the biggest trade-offs in league history occurred as five-time champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK) acquired Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, who had been a mainstay at Rajasthan Royals (RR) over the years, in exchange for the services of Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.

Jadeja's league fee has been revised from Rs 18 crores to Rs 14 crores, whereas Samson will represent CSK starting in the upcoming tournament at his existing fee of Rs 18 crores. Curran also transferred from CSK to RR at his current salary of Rs 2.4 crores.