IPL 2019 auction: Northeast states, Puducherry players register for first time

The IPL 2019 auction has seen over 1000 players register for the event which will take place in Jaipur on December 18 and 19. In a statement released by the Indian Premier League, the event will see cricketers from nine states – Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Puducherry register for the first time in history and this auction will be a showcase in the depth of talent available in the Indian cricket team. A total of 70 spots are vacant for the next season of the Indian Premier League and out of the 1000 players who are aiming to fill up the spots, 200 are capped players, 800 are uncapped and three players from Associate Nations. Out of the 800 uncapped players, 746 are Indian.

A total of 232 players are from overseas and out of that, the maximum number is from South Africa with 59. Australia is next with 35 players followed by the West Indies with 33. Afghanistan has 27 players registered for the auction and it is yet another sign that the country is making gigantic strides in the world of cricket. In the IPL, the likes of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have all made their mark. There will be one player from Hong Kong, USA and the Netherlands which will make up the associate members.

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However, there will be another major change. Richard Madley, who has been the face of the event ever since the beginning, will not be part of the auction this time. On his Twitter handle (@iplauctioneer), he tweeted, “Sorry not to be conducting #IPL2019 auction . It’s been an honour and a privilege to have been part of #IPL from the start. Will miss my many friends and followers in #India and beyond. Thank you for the welcome you have always shown . The Hammerman.”

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Madley will be replaced by Hugh Edmeades, an independent fine art, classic car and charity auctioneer. With over 30 years of experience at Christie’s, Edmeades will engage the bidders from eight franchises.