IPL auction Yusuf Pathan is the sports star value

Jan.08 (GMM) Members of the Indian cricket team are keeping an eye on the proceedings of the Indian Premier League auction where 353 players will go under the hammer in Bangalore today. The high-profile two-day auction for the fourth edition of the IPL will feature many Indian players and it has kept the cricketers glued to the news emerging back home.

The highly successful tournament is set to feature 10 teams and a whopping 74 matches this season starting April 8 and many players feel the addition of the two new franchises would make the auction a tricky affair.

"Because of additional two teams things have become tricky. Even otherwise very few players from the core Indian players group are available for auction," said a player.

"I believe player like Yusuf Pathan are going to be the main draw during this year's IPL auction. Forming team is going to be difficult this time around," he added.

Another senior Team India player said they have already chalked out their plan for the auction and would look for two overseas players.

"We have retained more than one player so for us our core group is ready. We will gun for two more classy overseas players and then have to concentrate on local players. We are sure that we can manage with whatever funds we have in our hand," he said.

"If teams have not retained any player then they have power of purse at their disposal," said the player, who was surprisingly released by his franchise.