Daniel Vettori, Australia’s bowling coach, will leave the national team’s camp during the first Test against India in Perth to attend the IPL auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The auction is scheduled for November 24-25, overlapping with the first two days of the Test match, which begins on November 22.
Vettori, who also serves as head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad, will miss part of the critical Border-Gavaskar series, a rare conflict that highlights the growing influence of the IPL on the international cricket calendar. Cricket Australia has expressed full support for Vettori’s dual commitments, confirming that he will return to the squad after the auction to continue his role for the remainder of the Test series.
To cover for Vettori during his absence, former Australia players Michael Hussey and Jim Allenby, along with national development coach Lachlan Stevens, will assist the team in Perth. Vettori has been working with Australia’s bowlers and batters ahead of the Test and is expected to rejoin the team once his IPL duties are fulfilled.
This scheduling clash underscores the challenge of balancing international and franchise commitments, with the IPL’s growing prominence continuing to shape the landscape of global cricket.
