Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has expressed frustration over the clash in scheduling between the IPL 2025 mega auction and the first Test of the India-Australia series in Perth. The opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is scheduled from November 22-26, while the IPL auction will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24-25.
This timing conflict has forced Ponting and Justin Langer, head coaches of the Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, to miss their commentating roles for Channel Seven after Day One and travel to the auction.
Ponting shared his frustration about the overlap, as reported by India Today:
“It’s the worst possible case scenario for me and ‘JL’. We for the last couple of months felt that it was probably going to be in the gap between the Test matches. It takes all the pressure off the players from both teams, there’s a lot of players in both teams in the auction.”
“So I always thought it would’ve been in that gap because it just seemed better for everybody. But I don’t know why they’ve chosen the dates they have – it might have something to do with the game. The auction actually starts on air almost immediately after the end of play. So it might be something to do with broadcast,” he added.
As Ponting pointed out, there is a 10-day break between the end of the first Test (November 26) and the start of the second Test (December 6). However, with both major events occurring simultaneously, players from India and Australia are likely to be distracted by the auction.
“Hopefully, I’ll return for the end of Perth, or else for the start of Adelaide”- Ricky Pointing
Ricky Ponting expressed hope of returning to his commentary role for the conclusion of the opening India-Australia Test in Perth. In addition to Ponting and Langer, Australia’s bowling coach Daniel Vettori, who is the head coach of SunRisers Hyderabad, will also travel for the auction.
“I’m calling the first day then flying out late Friday night to Jeddah. The auction is the 24th and 25th and then depending on how we’re going through our auction, we’ll see when I can return. Hopefully I’ll get back for the end of Perth, and if not I’ll be back on deck for the start of Adelaide,” said Ponting.
The auction is set to take place right after play (3 PM IST) on Days 3 and 4 of the opening India-Australia Test.
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