IPL Auction: Hot Picks

Teams have limited money and limited slots since all of them can only have 10 foreign players each and only 4 can play at a time. So Kolkata Knight Riders have freed up a slot by buying out the contract of Ricky Ponting, who anyway would not have been available for 3 weeks this year because of the Australia-New Zealand series.

Meanwhile Pakistanis make a comeback after missing season 3.

Here's our pick for which of the 13 players will be sought after:

SHANE BOND

Returned from rebel league but has retired from Tests

17 wickets from 13 T20 Internationals

With deliveries like this do you need to ask why Shane Bond will be a wanted man in the IPL auction. Surprisingly the base price is just $100,000 but expect a bidding war. As for Bond, he seems to be partial towards Chennai Super kings because he says he would love to play under Dhoni.

KIERON POLLARD

Took T&T to the finals of the T20 Champions League

Scored an 18-ball 54 vs New South Wales

Kieron Pollard didn't just take Trinidad & Tobago into the finals of the Champions League. He's now in the final of the KFC Big Bash as well with South Australia. He came into the limelight with an 18 ball 54 vs another Aussie team in the Champions League.

SHAKIB AL HASAN

The No 1 ICC all-rounder in ODIs

Got a fiver vs India in the ongoing Test

It was a surprise that the current Bangladeshi captain was ignored in last year's IPL. This time a timely fiver against India in the Chittagong has just reaffirmed why he is the number 1 all rounder in ODIs and 5th in Tests.

EOIN MORGAN

Averages 50 from 3 T20 Internationals

His 34 ball 67 knocked out South Africa in the Champions trophy
Eoin Morgan one of 5 players to be placed in the 2nd highest base price of $200,000 could be a wanted man. He's already proved to be hungry for runs. His 34-ball 67 helped in ousting hosts South Africa from the Champions Trophy.

BRAD HADDIN

Has captained Australia in T20 Internationals

Turned out to be a decent replacement for Gilchrist

Brad Haddin had some big shoes to fill in Australia but he's managed to make sure that Adam Gilchrist hasn't been too missed. The hard hitting wicket keeper who missed the recent ODI series in India due to injury has been placed in the top 3 of the auction, even though he will miss at least 3 weeks of the IPL.

JUSTIN KEMP

Last played for South Africa in 2007 before joining rebel league

Averages 50 from 8 T20 Internationals

South African Justin Kemp had quite a reputation in international cricket before he suddenly went off the radar joining the rebel league. However the average of 50 from 8 T20s tells the story.

KEMAR ROACH

Can consistently bowl over 145 KMPH

Gave Ponting a tough time in the recent series

And finally any team that wants a fast bowler but can't get either Umar Gul or Shane Bond will set their sights on this man. West Indian Kemar Roach made sure that Ricky Ponting was bruised courtesy his bouncers and with that kind of pace. He'll certainly be an ace in any team.

SHAHID AFRIDI

Flopped in IPL 1, with an average of just 10 for Deccan

Was MoM in semis & final of the 2009 T20 World Cup

Boom Boom Afridi was flip-flop Afridi in IPL 1, averaging just 10 with Deccan Chargers. But now he's in demand, Pakistan's international T20 captain was man of the match in both the semis and final of the World T20 and has recently been one of the stars in the KFC Big Bash in Australia.

UMAR GUL

Played for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2008

Leading wicket-taker in the 2007 T20 World Cup

Umar Gul was certainly missed by Kolkata in IPL 2, but now he might cost them more than the 60 lakhs they paid for him. Gul was the leading wicket taker in the last World T20 and is a bowler that any side would want.

IMRAN NAZIR

Explosive opener who returns from rebel cricket league

His 44 ball 111 in the 2008 final gave Lahore Badshahs the ICL title

Imran Nazir seems to be tailor made for this format. He was one of the stars of the rebel league, making a 44-ball 111 in the final of the 2008 edition. And he's also a fantastic fielder.

ABDUL RAZZAQ

Returns from rebel league where he took his Hyderabad team to the final.

Played an all-round role in Pakistan's 2009 World T20 campaign.

Once a rebel now looking to be snapped up by the IPL, Abdul Razzaq may be considered over the hill for international cricket but he's still a very handy all rounder. The buzz is that Kolkata desperately want him.

UMAR AKMAL

Umar who is Kamran Akmal's brother made a 100 on Test debut

He averages 44 in T20s, 44 in ODIs & 48 in Tests

Umar Akmal has been an aberration for Pakistan in recent time. Consistently making runs! The younger of the Akmal brothers made a 100 on Test debut and since then has been the mainstay of the unpredictable Pakistan batting. The youngster's average of 44 in T20s makes him much wanted.

SOHAIL TANVIR

Won purple cap in IPL 1 helping Rajasthan win the title

Holds record for best T20 bowling figures of 6/14

Sohail Tanvir was the leading wicket taker in IPL 1 helping Rajasthan win and one wonders why they even let him go considering they got him for just 100,000 dollars or 45 lakh? Now his base is double that at $200,000.