The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially designated Goa as the venue for the upcoming IPL auction. Speaking on Wednesday, September 23, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the event is scheduled for mid-December, likely taking place between December 14 and 16. As the proceedings are expected to constitute a smaller auction cycle, the entire event will be finalized as a one-day affair.
This decision marks a shift in strategy for the league. After hosting the previous three auctions in Dubai, Jeddah, and Abu Dhabi, the BCCI Governing Council opted to return the event to India following feedback from a majority of the 10 IPL franchises. The board’s primary requirement for the venue was a five-star hotel capable of accommodating more than 100 guests to facilitate the large delegations from every franchise. While this year’s event returns to home soil, officials noted that future mega-auctions could potentially move back to overseas locations.
Goa previously hosted the league’s second auction in 2009. That event remains notable in cricket history for the record-breaking interest in English stars Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, who were each purchased for USD 1.55 million—the highest prices at the time—by Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings. The 2009 gathering was also widely remembered for a high-stakes bidding war between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings for Mashrafe Mortaza. Mortaza was eventually secured by the Knight Riders for USD 600,000, rising from a base price of USD 50,000, with Shah Rukh Khan present at the auction table.
Separately, preparations for the Women’s Premier League remain ongoing, with the WPL auction confirmed to take place in Kochi on October 28. The report also notes that although it has not yet been revealed, the date of the auction has also been finalised.
