Australian Test skipper Pat Cummins has confirmed that he has signed up for the upcoming 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction and said that as things stand, he is willing to play the next edition of the lucrative T20 tournament.
Cummins, 28, also further expressed that a player should individually be aware of his workload and said that some cricketers can manage their workload better than others.
“I’ve signed up for the auction at this stage. I’ll probably have a bit more of a think about it before that auction date. At this stage, I plan to do the IPL. I have no advice for anyone else. I think you’ve got to be aware of (workloads), it could be a lot of time on the road, some people manage that better than others,” Cummins told reporters.
Cummins also said that he will have to endure the bubble life for some more time as people are aware of what they will have to go through.
“You have to know what you’re signing up for. It could be a long-ish winter but the last couple of winters have been quiet at home. The traditional tours are still a little way away, it will be bubbles for a little bit longer. Everyone has to be aware of it,” added Cummins.
Cummins, the recently appointed Australia Test captain, last featured in the 5th Ashes Test against England and scalped a total of seven wickets in the finall affair. Cummins played a significant role in helping his side thrash the vicitors by 146 runs.
Cummincs also led his side from the front as Australia outplayed England 4-0 in the just concluded Ashes series. Cummins, who played four games in the five-match rubber, emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 21 scalps.
Notably, even as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is still to release an official confirmation, a report in Cricbuzz had recently claimed that the schedule for the mega auction for the cash-rich tournament has been finalised wnd will be held on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru.
As per a report in Cricbuzz, the IPL officials have called each franchise and have informed them of the dates and venue.
As the dates for the mega auctions clash with an international game – an ODI between India and West Indies, the board officials insisted that the schedule is final and assured the different franchise that the match will have no bearing on the the auction proceedings and both will go ahead as planned.
“It has been clarified to us that the match and auction are two different things and both will go ahead,” a franchise official was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz after obtaining clarification from the BCCI.
“If anyone, Star Sports should have a say on this as they are the broadcast rights holders of both the events. It is learnt that Star officials have also been informed about it. A reply from Star is awaited,” it added.
Notably, the second One-Day International between India and West Indies is scheduled for February 12 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Significantly, with the mega auctions being held for 10 teams this year with the addition of the Lucknow and Ahmedabad franchise, more than 1000 players are likley to be named for it with as many as between 200 to 250 likley to go under the hammer.