PREVIEW - World Cup builds on success of IPL

By John Mehaffey

LONDON (Reuters) - An unprecedented auction in Mumbai last year transformed the face of cricket between the first two Twenty20 World Cups.

After eight city-based franchises had bid against each other for the world's elite one-day cricketers, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni emerged richer by $1.5 million before a ball had been bowled in the new Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament.

With players chosen by bids, not selectors and the competition neither organised nor controlled by the world governing body, the three-hour version of a game stretching to five days in traditional test matches was aimed primarily at India's vast television audiences.

The IPL was a direct result of India's success with a team of tyros in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa two years ago. India beat Pakistan in the final and the entire sub-continent fervidly embraced the new game.

Dhoni will lead India in the second World Cup starting with England versus the Netherlands at Lord's on Friday (1630 GMT) and all the signs point to a highly successful and popular tournament packed into 16 days.

PLAYERS ENTHUSED

Crowds have flocked to the preliminary matches this week, blessed by glorious weather, and Wednesday's warmup game between India and Pakistan at the Oval sold out.