Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Australia could be without assistant coach Vettori for first Test due to IPL auction, here's why

Australia's cricket team is likely to face a unique challenge during their upcoming first Test against India. Assistant coach Daniel Vettori could well depart temporarily due to a scheduling conflict with the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction.

The IPL 2025 mega auction is slated for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. These dates coincide with the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth, scheduled from November 22 to 26.



Vettori's commitment to the Sunrisers Hyderabad, the IPL team he coaches, could necessitate his presence at the auction for player selection.

SRH, who finished as runners-up in IPL 2024, will be looking to rebuild their roster for the upcoming season.

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In addition to Vettori, prominent Australian commentators Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer might also be absent from the commentary box during the Perth Test.

Both Ponting, head coach of Punjab Kings, and Langer, head coach of Lucknow Super Giants, are expected to participate in the IPL mega auction to strategise for their respective franchises.

Vettori's potential decision to prioritise the IPL auction underscores the league's growing stature and its impact on player and coaching commitments.

The former New Zealand spinner, who represented his country in 113 Tests and 295 ODIs, transitioned to coaching after his playing career. He joined Australia's coaching team in May 2022.

A year later, in August 2023, Vettori assumed the head coach role for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He guided the team to a second-place finish in IPL 2024.

The current roster at Sunrisers Hyderabad includes Australian Test players Pat Cummins and Travis Head, along with Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. The team has an auction purse of INR 45 crore.