'Haven't won even though it was happening every 3 or 5 years' - Aakash Chopra takes subtle dig on mega-auction promoters

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra pointed out that some of the unsuccessful franchises of the IPL are always up for a mega-auction. Ahead of the upcoming edition of the cash-rich league, there have been a lot of discussions on the future of mega-auctions as multiple franchises, including Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad, opined against it. However, as per reports, Punjab Kings wanted an overhaul and suggested that BCCI host a mega-auction ahead of the next IPL.

The apex council are yet to make up their mind on it but a mega-auction is very much on the cards. Reflecting on the same, Chopra stated that, teams such as Punjab, Delhi, and Bengaluru, who haven’t won the trophy so far may have voiced in favour of the mega-auction but he reminded them that even though when the auction was happening every three or five years, these teams have not managed to win it.

“Some franchises say - 'How will we win if you don't allow the reset or reboot button to be pressed? Our team is not good currently and we want to dismantle it totally. We might keep a few people and leave everyone else, and we want to start afresh. Otherwise, it's unfair because you have to do a mega auction every third or fifth year,” Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.

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“It was heard that it was the Punjab team. It might be the Delhi team or the Bengaluru team because they have never won to date and if you do like this, they would never be able to win. The counterquestion to that is - You haven't won even though it was happening every three or five years,” the 46-year-old added.

The former cricketer also stated that franchises will not invest in any player if mega-auctions keep happening every now and then. Notably, all the top teams in the tournament maintain one or more academies, from which they groom and select players and Chopra indicated that the process might stop if mega-auctions keep happening.

“You should have won but since you have not won, you are slightly upset. Since you are upset, you want it to happen once again. If you keep playing auction-auction repeatedly, IPL (franchises) won't be interested at all in investing in any player,” he noted.