THE world’s best male cricketers will go under the hammer today as teams finalise their squads for the 2024 Indian Premier League.
Millions of rupees will be spent with players set to earn huge sums.
Here’s what you should look out for at the auction.

Which England players are available?
There are 24 England internationals or other domestic English players among more than 300 who will be up for grabs in Dubai.
One of them is batter Harry Brook, who was signed for £1.35m by Sunrisers Hyderabad last year but was released after a disappointing campaign.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid, also released by Sunrisers, is on the auction list, as is all-rounder Chris Woakes after he skipped the 2023 edition.
Opener Phil Salt made a timely century in the third T20 against West Indies on Saturday and is looking for a franchise, while all-rounder David Willey will be hoping for a deal after his international retirement.

Test captain Ben Stokes,batter Joe Root and bowler Jofra Archer will all miss next year’s tournament as they each manage their workloads and fitness.
White-ball skipper Jos Buttler, batter Jonny Bairstow and bowler Mark Wood are among those already retained by their franchises.

English players in IPL 2024 auction: Harry Brook, Chris Woakes, Phil Salt, Adil Rashid, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sam Hain, James Vince, Brydon Carse, Tom Curran, George Garton, Jamie Overton, David Willey, Sam Billings, Ben Duckett, Gus Atkinson, Richard Gleeson, Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills, Ollie Robinson, George Scrimshaw, Olly Stone, Luke Wood, Benny Howell, Chris Wood

England players retained: Moeen Ali (Chennai Super Kings), Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals), Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone (both Punjab Kings), Jason Roy (Kolkata Knight Riders), Will Jacks, Reece Topley (both Royal Challengers Bangalore), Mark Wood (Lucknow Super Giants)

Who is expected to cost big money?
England all-rounder Sam Curran became the most expensive player in IPL history last year when he was bought for £1.85m by Punjab Kings.
He has been retained despite poor recent form but his record could come under threat today.

Australia players, on the back of their victory in India at the 50-over World Cup last month, look likely to be in demand.
Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc is set to return to the IPL after an eight-year absence while captain Pat Cummins and batter Travis Head, who scored a sensational 137 in the final against India, are also up for grabs.

New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra, another star of the World Cup, is hoping to be picked up for the first time and has set his base price relatively low. Also, keep an eye on Sri Lanka leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and India bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur.

The schedule means England players will be free to play in most of the competition but those picked for June’s T20 World Cup may be recalled for a series against Pakistan in late May which could clash with the latter stage.

How does the auction work?
The nuance of this ‘mini-auction’ – the next ‘mega-auction’ is in 2025 when fewer players will have been retained – comes from each franchise having different amounts to spend and spaces available in their squads.

Each will have their own priorities such as Mumbai Indians who need to replace Archer or Royal Challengers Bangalore who also look short of bowling options.
Gujarat Titans, the winners in 2022 and runners-up last year, have the most money available within the salary cap – 38.15 crore Indian rupees (£3.6m).

Lucknow Super Giants have the least at 13.15 cr (£1.3m).
Kolkata Knight Riders have space for up to 12 new recruits – almost half of their 25-player squad – but Lucknow, Sunrisers, Royal Challengers Bangalore and reigning champions Chennai Super Kings only have six spots available.

Each player has set a base price, the price their bidding will start from. Starc, Head and Thakur are among those to have put theirs at the maximum 200,000 lakh rupees (£190,000).
The players can be sold for much more than that if a bidding war ensues and they can also be signed later in the day if they go unsold in the first round of bidding.(BBC Sport)
It all gets under way at 07:30 GMT.