IPL 2016 Players Draft: Mahendra Singh Dhoni Picked by Pune, Suresh Raina Goes to Rajkot

While Mahendra Singh Dhoni will play for Pune next season, Suresh Raina will be seen in action for Rajkot. The two will play against each other for the first time in the IPL. Catch all the highlights here.

1246 hrs IST: James Faulkner - Right-arm medium pacer James Faulkner is aware of the Indian conditions well and loves to exploit it. He has two five-wicket hauls and in the tournament. Faulkner's bowling variation, specially his change-in-pace deliveries at the death makes him one of the most lethal properties in the world cricket. He was key to Australia's World Cup triumph earlier this year. Faulkner is also a handy batsman. M: 45, W: 51, Avg: 26.53

1245 hrs IST: Steve Smith - Australia skipper Steven Smith is a smart cricketer. He has scored close to 1,000 runs in the IPL and is also a very useful right-arm spinner. His leadership qualities is an added advantage. M: 46, R: 961, Avg: 34.32

1243 hrs IST: Ajinkya Rahane - He is India's most dependable middle-order batsman in Tests but also superb opener in T20s. He has scored a century and 17 half-centuries. M: 81, R: 2195, Avg: 33.77

1241 hrs IST: Brendon McCullum - It will be wrong or rather a poor decision to leave out Brendon McCullum from playing XI. He blasted off a whirlwind century in the inaugural edition of the IPL and was a potent threat at the top of the order along with Dwayne Smith in the last season for Chennai Super Kings. The New Zealand skipper may have given up wicketkeeping, but still is a champion fielder. M: 76, R: 2080, Avg: 29.30

1239 hrs IST: Faf du Plessis - The South African T20 skipper has been instrumental in helping Chennai Super Kings' success in last couple of seasons. He knows the Indian conditions well and can punish any bowling attack. M: 45, R: 1081, Avg: 30.03

1237 hrs IST: Dwayne Bravo is a complete package. Bravo is altogether a different player when it comes to Twenty20s and he has proved that time and again. His bowling average of 21.53 is superb, while he is a dangerous lower-down-the-order batsman. He is an outstanding fielder and not mentioning the catches he took last season will be just wrong. M: 91, R: 1163, Avg: 24.74, W: 105, Avg: 21.53

1235 hrs IST: Ravindra Jadeja has played for several teams. He started his IPL journey with Rajasthan Royals before moving to now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala. He was then picked up by Chennai Super Kings. The left-arm spinner is deadly on turning tracks and is capable of clearing the boundary ropes with ease. M: 111, R: 1383, Avg: 23.44, W: 67, Avg: 27.55.

Excited to play for the beautiful vibrant city- Rajkot in @IPL. Looking forward to have new teammates and support from the people of Gujarat

- Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) December 15, 2015

The summary of the vivo #IPLdraft pic.twitter.com/tGEGjZcwnr

- IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 15, 2015

1230 hrs IST: Suresh Raina's ability to score quick and big makes him one of the most dangerous batsmen in the shortest formats of the game. He is the all-time leading run-getter in the IPL with 3699 runs in 132 games and has belted one century and 25 fifties. He is also a very handy spinner and is known for choking runs. He has picked up 24 wickets. M: 132, R: 3699, Avg: 34.25, W: 24, Avg: 38.66

1220 hrs IST: That's that! The remaining 40 players go to the auction to be held on February 6 in Bangalore.

1213 hrs IST: Rajkot pick Dwayne Bravo as their fifth and final player at the draft today.

1206 hrs IST: Australian all-rounder James Faulkner picked by Rajkot. South Africa's T20 skipper Faf du Plessis to team up with Dhoni at Pune.

1204 hrs IST: Brendon McCullum becomes first overseas player to be picked. He will play for Rajkot. Steven Smith to play for Pune. Rahane too picked up by Pune.

1200 hrs IST: Ravindra Jadeja is picked by Rajkot while Ravichandran Ashwin goes to Pune.

1158 hrs IST: As expected, MS Dhoni is picked up by Pune franchise. Suresh Raina to play for Rajkot next season.

1145 hrs IST: Ravichandran Ashwin has played 97 matches for Chennai Super Kings, picking up 90 wickets at 24.22 with best figures of 3/16. A handy bat, Ashwin has contributed lower down the order and his all-round abilities should be an added advantage. M: 97, R: 190, Avg: 9.50, W: 90, Avg: 24.23

1135 hrs IST: MS Dhoni has played 129 matches -- all for Chennai Super Kings -- in the IPL, scoring 2987 runs at 39.30. He has captained CSK in all the eight season, winning two IPL titles -- in 2010 and 2011. Dhoni has also led them to two Champions League T20 crowns as well -- in 2010 and 2014. M: 129, R: 2987, Avg: 39.30

1126 hrs IST: IPL 2016 Players Draft is all set to get underway.

IPL Chairman @ShuklaRajiv with Intex director, Keshav Bansal at the vivo #IPLdraft pic.twitter.com/GetRkHtF0N

- IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 15, 2015

.@bhogleharsha is all set for the vivo #IPLdraft pic.twitter.com/Op5yixoKa9

- IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 15, 2015

Less than an hour to go and here's the IPL trophy at the vivo #IPLdraft pic.twitter.com/AkTfjPFaB6

- IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 15, 2015

The IPL 2016 players draft will be held in Mumbai and it is pregnant with possibilities. With 50 players available to New Rising (Pune) and Intex (Rajkot), but will Dhoni continue to command the price he did over the years? The fate of 10 players will be decided on Tuesday. The remainder goes to February's auction pool.

Chennai's core players will be in demand. In the shortest format of the game, Dhoni remains a superman. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, whose all-round credentials were proved during the recent series against South Africa, should be among the top picks. Jadeja could actually turn out for his home-town Rajkot.

Do not forget the overseas star. Brendon McCullum, who has smashed a century of sixes in Tests, will be much in demand. The likes of West Indian Dwayne Bravo (Chennai), Aussies Shane Watson, James Faulkner and Steven Smith (all Rajasthan) could steal the big bucks as well.

All eyes will be on Ajinkya Rahane during IPL 2016 player draft.

Salient points of the IPL players draft:

How many players in the draft?

A pool of 50 will be available. The teams choose 10 and the rest go to the auction to be held on February 6 in Bangalore

Who picks first?

By virtue of making the best successful bid, New Rising (Pune) gets the right to make the first choice. Then Rajkot (owned by Intex) follows. The teams then take turns till they have chosen five each.

How much can each team spend?

Each team has a purse of minimum 40 crores and a maximum of 66 crores. Technically, Pune and Rajkot need not pick any player from the draft and wait for the February auctions. But that is highly unlikely as the new teams will love to identify a core and build a team around it.

How much can a player earn?

The two-year-old policy to retain a maximum of five players per team stands. The first 'capped' player gets Rs 12.5 crore, the second Rs 9.5 crore, third Rs 7.5 crore. fourth Rs 5.5 crore and the fifth Rs 4 crore. An uncapped player stands to earn Rs 4 crore, if picked.