Black Caps chase millions in IPL auction

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sixteen Black Caps are vying for a huge pay day when the Indian Premier League (IPL) player auction is held on Tuesday night.

Many of those players will be watching the auction on TV in Tauranga where they are preparing for the third Test against the West Indies, which starts on Thursday.

And it’s likely to be a nervous watch, as players can either become millionaires on the spot or find themselves jettisoned without a pay cheque.

Four other New Zealanders won’t feel that tension. Trent Boult (Mumbai Indians), Lockie Ferguson (Punjab Kings), Glenn Phillips (Gujarat Titans), and Mitchell Santner (Mumbai Indians) have been retained by the franchises they played for last year.

Devon Conway will be first in the batters group when the auction starts at 10pm NZT, and like nine of his Kiwi comrades, he has set the maximum base price of $380,000 at which bidding will start.

The other Black Caps on that base are Rachin Ravindra, Jacob Duffy, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke.

Conway and Ravindra were both released by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the auction after indifferent form last season and will be hoping to get picked up by other teams.

Wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert has set a bidding start price of $286,000, and will have done his chances no harm with a flying century for Melbourne Renegades in their opening Australian Big Bash match last night.

Muhammad Abbas, Zak Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs and Nathan Smith start out at $143,000.

Setting a high price can be risky as it increases the chance of not being bought, and bidding wars often result for players who have set a lower price.

The rewards can be great. Kyle Jamieson set a New Zealand record when the Royal Challengers Bangalore bought him for $2.86 million in 2021, though Daryl Mitchell went close to that with $2.7m two years later, while Trent Boult earned $2.5m last year.

Three hundred and fifty players go under the hammer at the mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, but there are only 77 places available, with 31 of those reserved for overseas players.

Black Caps pace bowler Duffy has been a standout performer in all three formats against the West Indies, giving him a great chance of getting a contract, while Henry was similarly impressive in the one-dayers, before missing most of the test series with injury.

Many of the New Zealand bowlers have had injury problems this summer, including O’Rourke, who has yet to play as he recovers from a back stress fracture, Santner, Smith, Jamieson and Milne, and allrounders Mitchell and Phillips, have all issues at various times.

The IPL does not start until 26 March, giving those currently injured plenty of time to recover.

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green is widely tipped as favourite to attract the highest bid.

Indian wicket keeper Rishabh Pant attracted IPL’s biggest price when he was signed by Lucknow Super Giants for $5.46m last year.

IPL Auction

Abu Dhabi, 10pm NZT,

Live on Sky Sport 3.

Black Caps (with base prices)

$380,000: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Finn Allen, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Will O’Rourke.

$286,000: Tim Seifert.

$143,000: Tim Robinson, Zak Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs, Muhammad Abbas, Nathan Smith.

In auction order: Conway (1st), Ravindra (13th), Allen (14th), Duffy (23rd), Henry (25th), Robinson (76th), Bracewell (80th), Foulkes (82nd), Mitchell (84th), Seifert 95th), Jamieson (96th), Milne (98th), O’Rourke (100th), Jacobs (156th), Abbas (215th), Smith (222nd).

Retained by franchises

Trent Boult (Mumbai Indians), Lockie Ferguson (Punjab Kings), Glenn Phillips (Gujarat Titans), Mitchell Santner (Mumbai Indians).

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand