CSK needs a fast bowler while RCB needs a hitter, a maze of strategies is ready to fill 77 vacant places.

News India Live, Digital Desk: The real thrill of IPL starts even before the fours and sixes are hit on the field. Where? Yes, on the auction table. The ‘Auction Day’ that you and I wait for with a packet of chips is actually a nerve-wracking day for the team owners and management. This time the mathematics is a little more complicated. It is reported that 350 players will go under the hammer to try their luck. But the truth is that the total vacancies including all the 10 teams are only 77. That is, the saying “One pomegranate, a hundred sick” fits perfectly here. Whose mathematics says what? Like every time, this time too we are wondering which one will be sold at the highest price. But the teams’ focus is elsewhere. They are not looking for superstars, they are looking for their requirement. Less space, more fight: On an average, a team needs only 7-8 players to complete its squad. This means that many big names may remain unsold and many unknown faces may become millionaires. Who wants what?: For example, some teams have their top order set, but the finisher is missing. Someone has an army of spinners, but does not have a pacer to bowl in the death overs. In the auction, teams will fight to fill these vacant ‘holes’. Money Talk: The most interesting thing is to see how much power is in the purse of which team. Teams which have retained more players, their purse is lighter and they will bid very thoughtfully. At the same time, the teams which have released big players, will enter the auction like a loose bull and will increase the rate of any player. The era of smart buy is now gone when teams used to spend money only on name. Now is the era of data and analysis. Out of 350 players, those ‘diamonds’ will be selected who can create a big bang at a low price. This battle for 77 seats will not be just about money, but about brains and strategy. So be prepared, because when the auction starts, not only the players’ heartbeats are going to increase, but ours and yours too!