SA vs IND : Aiden Markram Firmly Exclaims That IPL Auction Not Motivation For South Africa Players In T20Is Against India

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Captain Aiden Markram said he would be happy if the Proteas stars performed well and attracted the attention of owners and scouts in the lead-up to the IPL mega auction. India and South Africa will play a 4-match T20I series, starting November 8.

South Africa cricket team captain Aiden Markram said the home team hasn’t discussed about Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction in the lead-up to their T20I series against India. The two teams will play a four-match series in South Africa from November 8 to 15 while the mega auction has been scheduled to be held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

South Africa’s T20I captain Aiden Markram has dismissed the notion that the upcoming series against India is a rematch of the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup final. The two teams will meet for the first time since their final clash in Barbados, where India triumphed by seven runs.
However, Aiden Markram insists his team isn’t looking for revenge but rather focusing on doing well against India at home.

Aiden Markram shares his views on IPL and series vs India

Aiden Markram said the IPL mega auction will not be motivation for the players, but that it would be an added bonus if players do well and attract the attention of team owners and scouts. Playing against India, the hosts of the IPL, is also an added advantage for the players.

As many as 91 South Africa players, including captain Aiden Markram, have registered for the IPL 2025 mega auction. Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals) and Heinrich Klaasen (SunRisers Hyderabad) were the only two South African players who were retained ahead of the auction.

The upcoming series will witness major changes in both teams from the ones that battled for the T20 World Cup title. South Africa will miss the services of key players such as Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, and wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock. Meanwhile, India’s squad also misses some big names but has four players from their World Cup-winning team: captain Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and a few rising stars.

India and South Africa will meet for the first time since the T20 World Cup final in Barbados in June. The build-up to the series has been around ‘revenge’, but Markram played it down, saying the team hasn’t discussed anything on those lines.

IPL auction not motivation for South Africa players in T20Is vs India exclaims Aiden Markram

South Africa T20I skipper Aiden Markram asserted that his squad are not eyeing the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions during the upcoming four-match T20I series against India. In the past, recency bias has come into play, with several players bursting their way into franchises’ wish list on the back of performances just preceding the auction.

The T20I series between South Africa and India marks the last premier white-ball affair ahead of the IPL auction, scheduled to take place on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah. Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs are the only two players, who their respective franchises have retained, while the rest including skipper Aiden Markram are headed for the auction in search of a new contract.

Out of the 1574 players that have registered for the auction, 91 players are from South Africa.

“I don’t think it’s the focus. But, as we all know, things like the auction, especially for a big tournament like the IPL, a lot of things can fall into place for players. We are fortunate to be playing a series against them, pretty much just before the auction.

It happens so. That would pretty much be the bonus of doing well, firstly, collectively, and then for the individuals to put their hands up. I don’t think it’s the motivation to do well, but I think it’s a bonus that potentially could follow,” Markram said during the press conference ahead of the series opener in Durban via India Today.

The T20I series continues the road towards the World Cup in 2026 for both sides. South Africa have had a rocky time in the format since their defeat in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, going onto be on the receiving end of a whitewash at the hands of the West Indies as well as a 1-1 draw against Ireland.

Aiden Markram shares his views on iconic WT20 clash with India

India and South Africa faced each other not so long ago, in the form of a memorable 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados. On that occasion, the Proteas fell agonizingly short of securing their first World Cup after losing a last-over thriller to the Men in Blue.

Despite the wounds of the loss still arguably less, Markram maintained that the agenda of the forthcoming series is far from revenge.

“The same countries, I guess. But, like you mentioned, the personnel has changed for both teams. It’s always an exciting series when you play against India, at home. That’s a series we have always look forward to. We haven’t addressed anything about it being a revenge match or things like that. A lot of talk and promotions have happened through that lens, which is also something that I completely understand,” Markram added.

The last time India toured South Africa for a T20I series, they walked away as 2-1 winners. The Proteas have won 11 T20Is out of 27 matches against the Men in Blue since their first meeting in 2006.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: “Side Arm Specialists In India Need To Work Hard To Prepare Batters For Tough Times”- Abhishek Jain Gives His Invaluable Insights


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