The Delhi Daredevils team management, comprising of skipper Kevin Pietersen and coach Gary Kirsten, will have some selection dilemma ahead of the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), if Ross Taylor is to be believed.
While some cash-rich franchises -- notably SunRisers Hyderabad -- splurged to earn the services of the biggest names on the cricketing map, uncapped Indian talents were also under the spotlight for hefty contracts.
The eight IPL franchises will submit their 'Player Retention Lists' on Friday, January 10. A look at the players likely to be retained.
While the auction ahead of the ninth edition, starting in April, was great for Indian players in general, there were a few surprises in store. Rediff.com takes a look at the Indian players who secured themselves the best deals.
India fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat claimed a Rs 11.5 crore deal with the usually thrifty Rajasthan Royals even as South African pace ace Dale Steyn went unsold on the second day of the Indian Premier players' auction in Bengaluru, on Sunday.
Jaydev Unadkat was the most expensive purchase to continue his good run at the auction.
The women's T20 exhibition matches, which will be staged during the Indian Premier League, is once again likely to be slotted during the playoffs as the Board of Control for Cricket in India that remains the only window available for these games.
Not undermining Dale Steyn's ability with the ball, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner said that he wishes to continue with Trent Boult.
The Australia vice-captain struggled in the four-Test series in India preceding the IPL but has been at his attacking best in the Twenty20 tournament, where he has registered back-to-back 600-plus run seasons.
Laxmi Negi picks her All Stars XI after the IPL 2020 league games.
'Ngidi won't be available. He won't be arriving in time for the next game'
'... both boards will be working together from now on to stage the tournament'.
'I was chatting to our team doctor, whose room was across the hallway from my mine in the hotel, and Kumar (Sangakarra, the Royals' head coach) came around the corner, and drew his finger across his throat, and then we knew it was over.'
Warner leads the run-getters' list and has also notched three consecutive 100-run partnership for the opening wicket with Englishman Jonny Bairstow, who scored a blistering 114 against Bangalore.
With MI's batting finally clicking, LSG bowlers have task cut out
India skipper Virat Kohli and his predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni are among the top players who are set to be retained by their respective IPL franchises, Royal Challengers Bangalore and comeback outfit Chennai Super Kings respectively.
'We've seen significant change in batting and it's worth it to give him that extra bit of time'
Patel wasn't expecting a marauding Dhoni to miss Umesh Yadav's slower delivery before his direct throw sealed it for the home team on Sunday night.
Mumbai Indians's road to redemption in the Indian Premier League faces another tricky test on Sunday when they host formidable Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai.
The four-wicket defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL Eliminator match on Monday ended Virat Kohli's tenure as the Royal Challengers Bangalore's skipper but he said he will continue to play for the franchise till the end of his career.
Wrist spinners have become the toast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) so much so that a successful off-spinner like Ravichandran Ashwin, too, has been keen to try bowling leg breaks, feels cricket legend Kapil Dev.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians will need their famed top-order batting to fire and turn things around when they take on Punjab Kings in the IPL in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Flamboyant Australian Glenn Maxwell is expected to be a favourite, despite his under-whelming record, along with England's spin bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali, while Kerala's batting sensation Mohammed Azharuddeen could be in hot demand during a condensed IPL players' auction, to be held in Chennai, on Thursday.
The unbeaten streak of table-toppers Surisers Hyderabad would be up for a test when they take on third-placed Kings XI Punjab in an Indian Premier League contest, in Mohali, on Thursday.
RCB would be hoping Virat Kohli can shake off his recent below-par performances and announce himself with a match-winning batting performance in the Eliminator match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Four openers. Two middle order batsmen. Two leg-spinners. Three fast bowlers. Harish Kotian picks his IPL XI from the league stages.
A win over Sunrisers Hyderabad is imperative for Mumbai Indians to keep their chances alive of making it to the play-offs.
CSK's Harbhajan Singh and Mumbai Indians' Lasith Malinga were among the other big names to be released by their respective sides ahead of next month's auction.
Simon Katich said that the next eight days will make or break the side's run in the tournament as they will play four matches in quick succession.
The Indian Premier League match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Ahmedabad on Monday has been rescheduled after two KKR members test positive for COVID-19.
From Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma sharing the limelight with their raw talent, to SRH's Travis Head smashing some brutal boundaries to notch up big runs and totals for his franchise, this season has had some real power hitters on show.
England batter Liam Livingstone fetched a staggering Rs 11.50 crore deal from Punjab Kings, who also roped in West Indies fast bowler Odean Smith, for Rs 6 crore, on Sunday, Day 2 of the TATA Indian Premier League 2022 Player Auction, in Bengaluru.
RCB all-rounder Glenn Maxwell believes left-handers did the trick for CSK by exploiting the shorter boundaries at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for Wednesday's opening T20I against New Zealand?
However, Mumbai will take heart from the fact that they defeated defending champions Chennai Super Kings, their first loss in four games, in the last match.
Former India opener Virender Sehwag there can't be a better 'mentor' than Dhoni when it comes to young players, who are a bit introvert and need someone to guide them as they try to express themselves on the field.
Images from Sunday's IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals, in Dubai.
Stressing the need to keep the spirit of gentleman's game alive, Indian limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said the Indian Premier League (IPL) has helped players from across the globe connect with each other and taken "ugly sledging" away from cricket.
David scored a 14-ball 18 on debut and added 62 with Matthew Wade (45) to guide Australia to a four-wicket win in the first T20 on Tuesday.
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