‘Don’t think so’: Aiden Markram on whether T20I series is an audition for IPL auction | Cricket News
South Africa cricket captain Aiden Markram said his team hasn’t discussed anything about Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction in the lead-up to their four-match T20I series against India.
Captains Aiden Markram and Suryakumar Yadav pose with the T20I series trophy. (Photo – X | @BCCI)
New Delhi: South Africa will take on India in the first T20I of the four-match series on Friday, November 8 at the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban. Ahead of the series, the South African skipper said that his team hasn’t discussed about the IPL 2025 mega auction.
91 players from South Africa have registered their names for the auction, including captain Aiden Markram. Heinrich Klassen and Tristan Stubbs are the only two players retained by their respective franchises ahead of the mega auction.
The IPL 2025 mega auction will take place on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Aiden Markram in the press conference said that he don’t think that the IPL auction is the focus for South African players. He further added that his team is fortunate to be playing a series against India. He also said that the auction is not the motivation for the South African players to do well in the series and there have been no discussions about the auction in the dressing room.
“I don’t think it’s the focus. But, as we all know, things like the auction, especially for a big tournament like the IPL, a lot of things can fall into place for players,” Markram said while addressing a press conference in Durban ahead of the first T20I.
“We are fortunate to be playing a series against them, pretty much just before the auction. It happens so. That would pretty much be the bonus of doing well, firstly, collectively, and then for the individuals to put their hands up. I don’t think it’s the motivation to do well, but I think it’s a bonus that potentially could follow. But, in the camp, I don’t think there have been any discussions along those lines” he added.
Revenge for 2024 T20 World Cup Final?
South Africa and India will meet for the first time after the T20 World Cup 2024 final in Barbados in June. The build-up to the T20I series has been around revenge but Markram said that his team haven’t discussed anything about it.
“It’s always an exciting series when you play against India, at home. That’s a series we have always look forward to. We haven’t addressed anything about it being a revenge match or things like that. A lot of talk and promotions have happened through that lens, which is also something that I completely understand” Markram added.
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