IPL 2009 trade window closes, 7 players traded
The IPL trade window for the season 2009 closed yesterday, with seven players being traded.
Along with the trade, four temporary replacements in the first season were replaced by their respective franchisees and three young cricketers will be making their IPL debut this year.
The top trades in the list were Zaheer Khan and Robin Uthappa who were traded between The Banglore Royal Challengers and The Mumbai Indians. This trade will see both the players now play for their respective home towns, Zaheer Khan for The Mumbai Indians and Robin Uthappa for The Bangalore Royals.
Another trade took place between the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Daredevils swapping left arm seemer Ashish Nehra for the very impressive Shikhar Dawan.
The mumbau Indians were pleased to have Dhawan in the team.
A three-way-trade took place as Jaydev Shah moves to the Mumbai Indians, Gaurav Shah of Mumbai Indians moves to the Bangalore Royal Challengers, and Pankaj Dhawan of Rajasthan Royals moves to the Bangalore Royal challengers in the upcoming season of DLF IPL.
All in all there were 84 enquiries made for 54 players, which included a search for 26 Indian players and 18 foreign players.
Since the number of foreign players that a team can have in their inventory has been increased to 10, the teams have been trying to beef up their teams by wooing overseas players during the current trading window. The franchisees have been signing young and promising upcoming players.
As a result, teams have started hunting uncapped first class players. The Delhi Dare Devils have signed up uncapped Aussies David Warner and Andrew McDonald. Both these players showcased their talent at the recently held Test series and T-20 matches’ at the SCG against South Africa, at the start January 2009.
Delhi Daredevils COO Amrit Mathur said, “We are really delighted to have signed David. His debut game for Australia the other day has been sensational and we are hoping he will carry forward this brilliance into season 2 of the DLF IPL.”
Warner said, “I am thrilled to be joining the Delhi Daredevils, and I can’t wait to play in the IPL. My international debut has given me a taste of what it is like to score runs in front of a big crowd, and I am looking forward to more of the same in India. Playing alongside, top players from all over the world like Virender Sehwag, Glen McGrath and Daniel Vettori is going to be an amazing experience.”
Ashish Nehra will play for his home team The Delhi Daredevils.
The Deccan chargers picked up Aussie Ryan Harris, and the Mumbai Indians the Essex batsman Graham Napier.
Shahrukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders have provided long-term contracts to a couple of their replacement players from last season, Srilankan spinner Ajanta Mendis and Australian Brad Hodge.
The Mumbai Indians also signed Dwayne Brava and Chennai Super Kings signed a long-term contract on Chamara Kapugedera.
DLF IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi says, “I know that all the franchises are putting in a lot of work to ensure that their playing squads are even better than last season. The second player’s auction at Goa on February 6, 2009, will be an opportunity to sign some experienced internationals to complete their playing squads.”
Modi continues, “Following the Goa auction, I believe that we will have most of the world’s top cricketers registered to play in the DLF IPL. But, I am particularly pleased to see franchises investing in the gen-next of world cricket with the addition of many top young players. One of the most exciting aspects of last season was seeing some of the young players really develop and enhance their reputations – players like Yusuf Pathan, Shaun Marsh and Shikhar Dhawan.”
English players Steve Harmison, Kevin Pietersen, and Andrew Flintoff will be available for DLF IPL Season auction.
The DLF IPL Season 2 will start on April 10, 2009. The auctions for Season 2 will be held on February 6, 2009.