It did not come as a surprise to me that a number of uncapped players went for serious money in the IPL mini-auction. In fact, it is now the norm in the IPL. Each of these players has talent, and with scouting now highly professionalised and well researched, every team knows the strengths and weaknesses of uncapped players. I would go so far as to say that state selectors have now given way to IPL scouts, who are better paid and far more aware.
The IPL is a much more lucrative property, and scouting has become a well-paid profession. Unlike state selection committee members, who are former cricketers appointed largely as a matter of recognition, IPL scouts are career professionals who carry out their due diligence extremely well.
The story of last night’s auction is as much about Kartik Sharma as it is about Cameron Green. While it was well known that Green would go for an astronomical sum, many would have been taken aback by the bid for Kartik. I wasn’t. In fact, I was convinced he would go for multiple crores, and that turned out to be the case. This was because there had already been extensive research done on Kartik. If you had done your due diligence, you would have known that this was a buy that could turn out to be stellar – a worthwhile punt, and that’s exactly what the franchises did in Abu Dhabi.
Another point worth mentioning is that in a mini-auction, there will always be some players who go for more money than they deserve. That’s how a mini-auction usually plays out. Green, for example, hardly deserves 25 crores – in fact, he doesn’t. Yet it was no surprise to see his bid reach that level. This is purely a matter of market dynamics. Demand was far greater than supply, and hence the price was inflated.
A mini-auction also allows franchises to pick players they believe could become future stars. It gives franchises the opportunity to load up. If you have done your research well, you invest in uncapped players at a mini-auction, keep them for a few years, and see if they mature as expected. If they do, you’ve earned your stripes. If they don’t, it is still a punt worth taking.
This is much like the stock market. You invest in start-ups, hoping that one among many will succeed and turn into a million-dollar investment. That is exactly the case with uncapped players, and it explains why so many of them were picked up.
In sum, the IPL is now a mature market. Scouting is sophisticated, and research is insightful and detailed. That’s why you see franchises investing in a well-thought-out manner. RCB buying Venkatesh Iyer for seven crores is yet another example. They stayed in the hunt and were prudent. Every franchise will believe it has had the best auction and will feel satisfied for now. Who actually did have the best auction will only be known in May 2026. Until then, all team owners can feel vindicated.
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