Cricket

“Have a draft and get rid of the auctions” - Robin Uthappa wants IPL to go beyond the start-up stage

Robin Uthappa called for a radical IPL overhaul: "Have a draft and get rid of the auctions." He argued the league is stuck in the "start-up stage" mindset and needs year-round trade windows and a longer season to become a truly mature global sports league.

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The two-time IPL champion and former Indian keeper-batter Robin Uthappa has suggested that the Indian Premier League (IPL) should replace the current auctions system with a trade window open throughout the year and a draft system in place alongside.

Speaking exclusively on his YouTube channel, Uthappa also suggested that the IPL should reconsider its two-and-a-half-month window and extend it to a six-month league, asserting that the cash-rich league is not in a start-up stage anymore.

Furthermore, Uthappa also reckoned that the IPL and BCCI officials are not taking the league beyond the entertainment mindset, adding that the draft system will also engage the fans in a good way. With a six-month IPL in place, Uthappa felt international games could be played in between.

"They are not taking it beyond the start-up stage. It is baffling. You are the leading cricket league in the world. Mature now. Just get on with it. Stop with the auctions and keep the trade window open throughout the year. Have a draft and get rid of the auctions. For crying out loud, get rid of the auctions. I have been saying this even when I was playing," he said.

"They are not going beyond the entertainment mindset, for TV. Even a draft can be great TV. You will get your fans engaging and create fan loyalty. Just get it going. I think it should be like a six-month league. You can have international fixtures in between. It has to evolve," he added.

Notably, Uthappa represented the Mumbai Indians (MI), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Pune Warriors India (PWI), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchises in his IPL career, scoring 4,952 runs in 205 IPL matches, which includes a 660-run Orange Cap and trophy-winning season with KKR.

Notably, the IPL 2026 mini-auction is scheduled to take place on December 16.

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