Preparations for the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) have apparently begun, and reports suggest that the IPL auction may not take place in India. This decision is influenced by the involvement of six IPL franchises in the SA20 tournament in January-February and all five Women's Premier League (WPL) franchise owners being engaged in the International League T20. Consequently, the IPL auction was moved to the December window last year and is expected to remain there this year. The IPL auction is likely to be hosted in Dubai, while the WPL auction will stay in India, both scheduled for December.
According to reports by Cricbuzz, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering taking the IPL 2024 auction to Dubai later this year. The IPL 2024 auction is set to occur from December 15 to 19 in Dubai.
Although official confirmation has not been provided to the IPL franchises, reports suggest that the Dubai auction is tentatively planned for around December 18 or 19, despite these days falling on weekdays. Last year, the BCCI had contemplated Istanbul as a possible venue but ultimately settled on Kochi. Therefore, the Dubai proposal may still be subject to change, but franchises have been informed about the possibility.
The player trading period is currently ongoing, but no transfers between IPL teams have been announced as of yet. With the conclusion of the three-year cycle, it remains to be seen if significant trades will occur, particularly involving high-earning players who made fewer contributions in the last season.
As for the WPL, the auction is tentatively scheduled for December 9. Speculation suggests that the WPL might be scheduled for February in 2024, as the Indian women's cricket team have international fixtures until mid-January. There is still uncertainty regarding the format of the WPL, whether it will be held in a single city as in the previous Mumbai edition or organised across multiple locations in India.