Riyadh likely to host IPL 2025 mega auction

The IPL (Indian Premier League) 2025 mega auction is looming on the horizon; the marquee event is expected to take place on November 24 and 25 in Saudi Arabia, but no official confirmation of the same has come forth from the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) as of yet.

It is being reported that the board is currently exploring its options, and a schedule for the auction should be announced soon. However, the BCCI is going through a potential issue, which has been that the proposed dates for the auction could collide with India's first Test match in Australia, scheduled to be held in Perth from November 22 to 26.

The BGT 2024-25 will be broadcasted on Disney Star, and it is worth noting that Star is also one of the official broadcasters of the IPL and would want to avoid any overlaps. However, due to the time difference in Australia, any clash in timings seems unlikely. 

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As per a Cricbuzz report, a few BCCI officials have visited Saudi Arabia, with some also expected to depart on Monday, October 21. The potential venues for the auction have also been narrowed down to Riyadh and Jeddah, and it is expected that Riyadh could go on to host the event. 

It is worth noting that the BCCI also went with Dubai, Singapore, and London as the places where the auction could have been held. However, Saudi Arabia has been zeroed in upon. 

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Various franchises have been urging the BCCI to announce the venue for the mega auction as soon as possible so they can make arrangements for travel available. However, before the start of the auction, every team must submit their respective retention lists before the deadline of October 31, 5pm. 

There could be several players who could make big switches in the mega auction; the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and many more have been reported to leave their existing teams.