Rs 639.15 crores spent on 182 players. An average of Rs 3.5 crore per player. A staggering 21 players earning nine-figure contracts. Two of those – Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer – setting foot in a territory that had remained unexplored and impregnable since the competition’s inception – crossing the Rs 25 crore mark.
For many reasons, the latest instalment of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction was undeniably avant-garde, especially whilst comparing it to its predecessors.
That, though, is about optics, and would be of interest for those with an affinity for the spectacle. In this article, however, we focus on the tactical dynamics that could shape the upcoming season, discussing how the teams stack up after two days of paddle pyrotechnics, analysing the strengths, weaknesses and probable playing XIIs of all ten franchises.