The T20 cricket icons Suresh Raina, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, along with Anil Kumble, Robin Uthappa, RP Singh, Eoin Morgan, and Scott Styris will headline JioCinemas -- official digital rights holder -- expert panel for the IPL 2023 Player Auction, to be held on December 23 in Kochi.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mainly known as Mr. IPL for his success with four-time winners Chennai Super Kings, ex-India left-handed batter Raina will headline the Hindi coverage alongside Uttar Pradesh state-mate and former India left-arm pacer Singh.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I am coming back to the IPL armed with a mike in hand. It is exciting to be a part of the TATA IPL Player Auction 2023 along with my friends and former teammates and engage with fans across India," said Raina in an official release.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gayle, commonly known as Universe Boss and de Villiers, famous for bringing 360-style of cricket T20s, will reunite for the Player Auction to present their views on the picks made by all ten franchises on December 23.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"This is as thrilling as it gets to return to the IPL in a different avatar with my former teammates and competitors for the auction. I hope to get the same love from the fans in my new role where I will do some talking and not my bat," added Gayle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India is a very special place and to come back to the IPL in a new avatar with JioCinema will be an intriguing prospect. I hope fans enjoy and appreciate my work with a mic in hand in tow with these luminaries," stated de Villiers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kumble, the former India leg-spinner and head coach, will be present alongside Uthappa, a member of three previous IPL winning sides. Kumble was replaced by Trevor Bayliss as head coach of Punjab Kings after the side failed to enter IPL 2022 playoffs under him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"After playing, and coaching in the IPL, I look forward to being an expert panellist for the 2023 auction on JioCinema. In the company of the most reputed names from league's history, I am sure viewers will be offered well-rounded and incisive coverage," said Kumble.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Morgan, England's 2019 ODI World Cup winning skipper and Styris, the former New Zealand all-rounder will be part of the English panel that will also bring in-depth narratives like never before in the lead-up to the player auction that will see 405 cricketers going under the hammer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I'm glad to join this league of extraordinary gentlemen for the TATA IPL Player Auction 2023. With some of the sharpest minds of cricket dissecting the event, I reckon the fans are in for a treat at this auction," said Morgan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The panel will be part of an array of shows to keep fans engaged and excited for the IPL Player Auction 2023, including an in-house mock auction a day before the main event. The IPL Player Auction will be broadcasted to viewers in India across six languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam, on JioCinema.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier this year, Viacom18, under which JioCinema operates, shelled out INR 23,758 crore to claim digital rights (packages B & C) for the Indian subcontinent for IPL media rights 2023-27. Viacome18 further won the Australia, South Africa and United Kingdom rights for the same period.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The panel will be part of an array of shows to keep fans engaged and excited for the IPL Player Auction 2023, including an in-house mock auction a day before the main event. The IPL Player Auction will be broadcasted to viewers in India across six languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam, on JioCinema.<\/p>\r\n\r\n