IPL 2014 auctions: Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh attract top base price of 2 Crore each

For the upcoming player auctions of the Indian Premier League 2014, a list of 233 capped players from across 10 countries have been distributed to all eight franchises, with 46 Indians being valued at top base price (of Rs 20 million or Rs 2 Crore each). According to a report, the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Karthik, Pragyan Ojha and Yusuf Pathan are some of the names who have been valued at top base price.

Among the international stars, success in previous edition of the IPL and the Ashes 2013-14 has landed Mitchell Johnson in the same bracket as a Sehwag or Yuvraj. Along with him are his teammates, Brad Haddin and Steven Smith. Even though the likes of Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes are giving the tournament a miss after their 5-0 drubbing against arch-rivals Australia, their swashbuckling teammate Kevin Pietersen could see multiple franchises flex their financial muscle for him. Pietersen's teammate Jos Buttler, who is known for his big-hitting, is surprisingly missing from the auction list, according to an ESPNCricinfo report.

Latest big-hitting sensation from New Zealand, Corey Anderson and the current No.1-ranked batsman in T20s, Alex Hales, could also spark a vigorous bidding war. However, in Hales's case, a clause in the agreement with his County Nottinghamshire says he can participate in the IPL only if he secures the most lucrative deal possible.

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, who has been a part of the IPL in all of the previous six seasons, will not be seen during this year's tournament. Teammate Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Angelo Mathews will be part of the auctions and will be interesting to see where they attract interest from, owing to the fact that they will not be available towards the end of the tournament due to international commitments. Australian skipper Michael Clarke too has decided to stay away, in a bid to extend his international career despite a persistent back problem. (Virat Kohli wants Yuvraj Singh at RCB?)

Among the older lot of players, recently-retired Jacques Kallis, who tasted IPL success with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012, finds himself in the top-bracket while Australia's Brad Hogg and Muttiah Muralitharan have been valued at Rs. 15 million and Rs. 10 million, respectively. (IPL 2014 player retention: Contrasting team strategies and intriguing mentalities on offer)

The IPL player auctions will be held on February 12 and 13 in Bangalore. Indian currency will be used in all transactions for the first time. (How IPL teams retained their favourites)

 

Following players have been valued at maximum base price of Rs 2 crore each: Dinesh Karthik, Praveen Kumar, Amit Mishra, Ashish Nehra, Pragyan Ojha, Yusuf Pathan, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Saurabh Tiwary, Robin Uthappa, M Vijay, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Brad Hodge, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Alex Hales, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, Jacques Kallis, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews, Marlon Samuels.