IPL Season 5 auction to start from February 4

Indian Premier League will be beginning its auction process of Season 5, held by BCCI. The players’ auction ceremony will occur on 4 February, 2012, though the place hasn’t been announced yet by BCCI – the administrative body of IPL. The tournament of IPL 5 will commence on 4 April till 27 May, 2012.

In this year only 9 teams will participate in IPL 2012 auction, ands the reason is that IPL franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK) have not been tension-free from court yet. The IPL governing council have expanded the size of the squad of every IPL team to 33 from the old limitation of 30 players. In an announcement it has also expanded the upper limit of salary  by $2 million USD.

All the free agent players and some new international players will be in the auction this time. Even the KTK players will take part in IPL 12’ auction. Few international faces include Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene, Brad Hodge etc.

It is heard that if Royal Challengers Bangalore fails to renew Chris Gayle’s contract by 20 January, 12’, he will be in the auction this time. Last year he had played for RCB as replacement player and changed the face of RCB to take it in the upper position. He also was the highest run scorer in Season 4 IPL. Let’s see whether RCB will keep their lucky mascot ‘Gayle’ or the other teams may be fighting hard to auction him. Only time will tell.
Last year IPL Season 4 2011 was won by the brilliant Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and it is most probably anticipated that Chennai will host this season at M.A. Chidambaram International Cricket Stadium, also known as Chepauk Stadium.