Australia captain Pat Cummins hopes that the impending IPL mega auction, to be held during the Perth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, won't in any way affect his team.
The IPL auction is slated for November 24 and 25 and on the very day three and four comes to an end on November 24 and 25, the action will move to the two-day IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah.
Yeah, I think he is there in the auction. I don't think so (it will be a distraction). Dan has flown over there, but he has been here for the whole prep. Done all the meetings, done all the chats, watching it. We came to know that anyway.".
So, for the players, I don't think so. Most of these guys have been there in the auctions before. They know they can't really do anything. You are a sitting duck and seeing whether you get selected or not. It doesn't… doesn't make a difference to how we go about the first two days. It is not a distraction as far as I can see it," Cummins told reporters.
The only Australian players retained by their IPL franchises in the current squad are Cummins and Travis Head.
Australia's assistant coach Daniel Vettori will miss the Perth Test to be in Jeddah as Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach. In a similar situation, Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer, who were confirmed that they would miss commentating on the Perth Test for broadcasters Channel Seven after day one's play to be in the auction as head coaches of Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, respectively.
"Dan has done all the meetings and preparations with us. It's all set, so no concerns there," Cummins added.
The scheduling has been criticised too with the former Australia captain Pontingsaying, "A lot of players in both teams are part of the auction. It could have been scheduled during the nine-day gap between Tests, avoiding unnecessary pressure."
Cummins, however, remains unfazed with scheduling. “We are fully focused on the Perth Test. The auction timing means it won’t interfere with the first two days of play. We’re ready to give our best,” he asserted.
Australia and India will kick off the five-Test series at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Friday.
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