Richard Gillis, Mike Jakeman and invited guests dissect the business of cricket.

The IPL auction has become one of the most watched events in world cricket — part financial instrument, part entertainment spectacle. This episode gets under the bonnet: how it actually works, what it means for players, why it's reshaping cricket's global talent economy, and whether any of it translates to the UK market.

The conversation moves fast from mechanics to philosophy: competitive balance vs. team identity, player as commodity vs. player as inspiration, and the central tension of the hundred — is it building something sustainable, or is it a VC play dressed up as a sport?

Guests 

Charlie Hartley — Former county cricketer (Kent), entrepreneur. Author of a cricket coaching resource and a children's book on the life lessons of sport. Founder of a sports tech platform focused on athlete-fan data and engagement. Brings a player's perspective on the franchise model and its implications for the English game.

Gaurav Sundararaman — Cricket analyst and commentator with deep knowledge of the IPL. Has worked across the IPL ecosystem and brings an Indian market perspective on how the auction works from the inside — how franchises think, how scouting operates, and how the competition has evolved over nearly two decades.

Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry.
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We publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday. 

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