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Business vies with glitz at IPL auction | Business vies with glitz at IPL auction |
(about 24 hours later) | |
Shilpa Shetty (l) and Preity Zinta (r) add to the IPL gloss in Goa | Shilpa Shetty (l) and Preity Zinta (r) add to the IPL gloss in Goa |
By Prachi Pinglay BBC News, Goa | By Prachi Pinglay BBC News, Goa |
When the Indian Premier League (IPL) had its first auction last year, the likes of Bollywood stars Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta inspired excitement and lavish spending on favourite players. | When the Indian Premier League (IPL) had its first auction last year, the likes of Bollywood stars Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta inspired excitement and lavish spending on favourite players. |
The glitz could still be found this time round, with the latest IPL stakeholder, actress and UK Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty, among the throng. | The glitz could still be found this time round, with the latest IPL stakeholder, actress and UK Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty, among the throng. |
But even though commentators were stressing there is no such thing as a credit crunch in Indian cricket, this year in Goa the strategy was ultimately one of good old fashioned business sense. | But even though commentators were stressing there is no such thing as a credit crunch in Indian cricket, this year in Goa the strategy was ultimately one of good old fashioned business sense. |
Last year more than 70 players were bought, but this time only 17 slots were up for grabs for a total purse of $13.59m. | Last year more than 70 players were bought, but this time only 17 slots were up for grabs for a total purse of $13.59m. |
Both Pietersen and Flintoff have broken the previous IPL transfer record | Both Pietersen and Flintoff have broken the previous IPL transfer record |
With the benefit of experience from the first season, tighter budgets and limited player slots, the franchisees seemed to have made careful and practical bids this time. | With the benefit of experience from the first season, tighter budgets and limited player slots, the franchisees seemed to have made careful and practical bids this time. |
That did not stop English players Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen from being the most expensive players in the league, going for a price higher than the most costly player last year - India's MS Dhoni. | That did not stop English players Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen from being the most expensive players in the league, going for a price higher than the most costly player last year - India's MS Dhoni. |
Bangalore's owner Vijay Mallya said: "I was always keen to get Pietersen. He would be a superb addition to the team. We had a list of players before the auction and KP topped that list. We needed to strengthen our batting." | Bangalore's owner Vijay Mallya said: "I was always keen to get Pietersen. He would be a superb addition to the team. We had a list of players before the auction and KP topped that list. We needed to strengthen our batting." |
The closed-door auction took place in a luxury hotel in Goa where franchisees - no doubt buoyed by the winter sunshine and the relaxed atmosphere of the tourist season - waited eagerly with wallets in hand to make their acquisitions ahead of the new IPL season in April. | The closed-door auction took place in a luxury hotel in Goa where franchisees - no doubt buoyed by the winter sunshine and the relaxed atmosphere of the tourist season - waited eagerly with wallets in hand to make their acquisitions ahead of the new IPL season in April. |
Bollywood stars have contributed to the success of the IPL by making music videos, promoting brands and endorsing team outfits. | Bollywood stars have contributed to the success of the IPL by making music videos, promoting brands and endorsing team outfits. |
But Ms Shetty - who has a stake in the Rajasthan Royals - insisted she left all the decision making to the experts. | But Ms Shetty - who has a stake in the Rajasthan Royals - insisted she left all the decision making to the experts. |
Local talent | Local talent |
There were fewer journalists this year - last year more than 300 reporters squeezed into a room to report on the auction - and the press conference was quieter and less dramatic. | There were fewer journalists this year - last year more than 300 reporters squeezed into a room to report on the auction - and the press conference was quieter and less dramatic. |
Even so, Indian cricket is not short of money and has a fan base other countries can only dream about. | Even so, Indian cricket is not short of money and has a fan base other countries can only dream about. |
Mortaza joined Kolkata for $600,000, 12 times his reserve priceThe common refrain was there was "no recession in Indian cricket" and that all international players would be eager to join the IPL given that it was a lot of money for playing such a short time. The event runs from 10 April to 29 May. | |
The big auction surge was for Bangladeshi fast bowler, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. | The big auction surge was for Bangladeshi fast bowler, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. |
His starting price began at a mere $50,000 - but went 12 times over to $600,000 when the Kolkata Knightriders finally secured his services against stiff competition from the Kings XI Punjab. | His starting price began at a mere $50,000 - but went 12 times over to $600,000 when the Kolkata Knightriders finally secured his services against stiff competition from the Kings XI Punjab. |
The Kings XI later bought Jerome Taylor, the West Indian fast bowler, at his base price of $150,000. | The Kings XI later bought Jerome Taylor, the West Indian fast bowler, at his base price of $150,000. |
The Rajasthan Royals picked up South African Tyron Henderson for a whopping $650,000 - six times the base price. | The Rajasthan Royals picked up South African Tyron Henderson for a whopping $650,000 - six times the base price. |
Franchisees were quizzed over their commitment to local talent amid the clamour to sign the foreign stars. | Franchisees were quizzed over their commitment to local talent amid the clamour to sign the foreign stars. |
But they argued that the IPL had in fact boosted the careers of young domestic players like Yusuf Pathan and Abhishek Nayar. | But they argued that the IPL had in fact boosted the careers of young domestic players like Yusuf Pathan and Abhishek Nayar. |
Last year there was endless debate over how the IPL would affect the purity of the game and what it meant for cricket in general. | Last year there was endless debate over how the IPL would affect the purity of the game and what it meant for cricket in general. |
However, this time the media and viewers seem to have accepted the Twenty20 format as here-to-stay. | However, this time the media and viewers seem to have accepted the Twenty20 format as here-to-stay. |
The IPL auction looks like it will become a long-term fixture, driven as it is by market forces, profits and big bucks. | The IPL auction looks like it will become a long-term fixture, driven as it is by market forces, profits and big bucks. |
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