The first IPL auction introduced many of the most recognizable features of the league. However, it was a new phenomenon in the world of cricket. Like any new development, the league and auction process were met with doubts. Virender Sehwag, one of the biggest stars in the auction, revealed that the players on the Indian team felt the same way.
SEHWAG WAS BOUGHT BY DELHI DAREDEVILS
Sehwag disclosed that while on their 2007/08 tour of Australia, the Indian team had first heard of the auction.
Viru said:
“It has been a while, the kids have grown up, they are playing cricket now so it does feel like we have grown up. I can never forget the day we were briefed for the first time.”
Former India captains Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri approached the players with the idea, according to the 44-year-old.
“We were in Australia. Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri approached us and said that there is this thing called the Indian Premier League that is going to happen and they were asking us to give them all our rights. We were wondering if this league will really be a success or not. We are giving all our rights but then what if we end up getting nothing for it,”
Sehwag further added. He continued:
“But they made sure that we understand that it is going to become a very big league in the future. Whatever rights you give to this league, you will be earning far more than what you are now. The money was a secondary factor of course, but at the time we never imagined that it would become such a big platform where new players will get chances and they will end up replacing us.”
In the inaugural auction, Sehwag was bought by Delhi Daredevils.
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