New Delhi :
The stage is set for the ninth edition of cash-rich an Indian Premier League (IPL) as all the eight franchises will fight it out in the broad room before ground.
Less than 24 hours left for the auction, when 351 cricketers will go under hammer to play for eight teams.
The BCCI prepared an initial list of 714 from which a pool of 351 players, of which 130 are capped players, 219 uncapped and only two from the ICC Associate Nations Canada and Ireland. Among the groups of capped and uncapped players will be 230 Indians.
Eight franchises will fight it out to have their best team combination and balance for the league. Two new teams Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions will also test their luck in the auctions. The entry of two new teams and the two-year long exit of the suspended Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals has thrown into the auction pool a host of players that CSK and RR would have otherwise retained.
Players like Ishant Sharma, Kevin Pietersen, Ashish Nehra, Yuvraj Singh, Shane Watson, Darren Sammy, Dale Steyn, Travis Head and many more will go under hammer.
Let’s look at some marquee players in the auction who might fetch many:
The left-handed all-rounder has recently made a comeback to the Indian team with some powerful performances in the domestic season. Last year, the left hander fetched whopping Rs 16 crore for Delhi Daredevils. However, he had a bad patch in IPL from last two seasons, he is expected to be the favourite of many in the auction room.
The 36-year Indian fast bowler can be one of the main attractions in the auction. The veteran left-arm pacer's returns to India colours after a gap of four years. He has been one of the top wicket takers in the IPL and can have an impact in the upcoming league.
The former England batsman in his prime form. He scored 323 runs in the Big Bash for Melbourne Stars. He will be one of the best pick in the auction. He was released by Sunrisers Hyderabad and can one of the top run getters in the league.
All the eight teams will try to rope in the Australian all-rounder as he is playing some good cricket. He scored a century in the last T20 against India.
The skipper of Australia in T20s got injured in the series against India at home. He is in top form and can be a top buy for any team.
The left hander Australian is playing best cricket of his life. Many teams will shell out their pocket to grab the star.
