Each team can spend $2 million in the event meant for players not picked up in last year's auction. The exceptions are Bangalore and Pune, which have already spent some money retaining their respective 'replacements', Chris Gayle and Sourav Ganguly.
Four out of five 'marquee category' players in the auction list ahead of IPL 5 are from the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers, according to a tentative shortlist decided upon by IPL bosses. Ravindra Jadeja, Brendon McCullum, Muttiah Muralitharan and Mahela Jayawardene are expected to be top draws.
These players are likely to be auctioned first in the 'marquee' category list. The list will be updated on Wednesday. The other notable cricketer in the marquee list is England pacer James Anderson.
Jadeja has the lowest base price of $100,000 among the marquee players. However, he is tipped to be the hottest property in this year's auction. "Don't be surprised if Jadeja joins the million-dollar club," a team official said.
Among the marquee players who will be first-up for sale in the upcoming IPL auctions on February 4, New Zealand's wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum has the highest base price of $400,000, followed by Mahela Jayawardene ($300,000; will be available from April 8 onwards) and England pacer James Anderson ($300,000; will be available from April 8 to May 4). Sri Lanka's legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has a base price of $200,000.
If things go as per expectations at the auction, Ravindra Jadeja, who is expected to fetch the highest price, may see his fate being decided by a secret ballot, conducted by the ever-secretive IPL authorities, who with this one single ruling have ensured that only the team with the deepest pockets can win in such a situation.
The rules state that should there be a tie for a player with more than one team willing to shell out the maximum $2 million, the teams will be allowed to place a secret bid for an unrestricted amount, with the player concerned only pocketing the disclosed amount of $2 million and the rest going to the IPL coffers.
England spinner Graeme Swann ($400,000) leads a strong English presence in the auction, with as many as 13 players in the list released by the IPL on Monday.
Barring Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sahara Pune Warriors, who have spent part of their purse in retaining Chris Gayle and Sourav Ganguly respectively, the rest of the seven teams go into the auction with their entire $2 million.
Under-fire senior batsman VVS Laxman finds a place, though, with a base price of $400,000. Among the many interesting players up for sale is former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, who last played for Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup. According to what Mahmood told a website, he qualified to play for England last year, something reflected in the IPL list, which has his name with England as his country. Whether any of the franchises will pick him and invite trouble remains to be seen.
Injured Kerala pacer S Sreesanth has a base price of $400,000, but his availability in this year's event is doubtful. RP Singh, one of the leading wicket-takers in the IPL so far and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel have a base price of $200,000 each. India pacer Vinay Kumar has a price tag of $100,000.
Australia's left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson, who was injured ahead of the India tour, is also eyeing an IPL slot.
So is hot property Peter Siddle ($200,000), who will be available from May 1 onwards. Another Aussie who is expected to be in demand is Brad Hodge ($200,000).
Bangladesh stars include Tamim Iqbal ($50,000). England stumper Matt Prior ($200,000), Ravi Bopara ($100,000) and Owais Shah ($200,000) are also part of the list. Among South Africans, Herschelle Gibbs ($50,000) and Mark Boucher ($100,000) are also eyeing IPL contracts.
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