IPL Auction: The ten hot shots

IPL Auction: The ten hot shots

New Delhi: Never mind the 2011 cricket World Cup, the grand lead up to the Indian Premier League extravaganza starts right here, right now when the men are separated from the boys in the January 8-9 player's auction. With a barrage of big names involved in the glitzy event and no shortage of flair or talent, the franchisees may well be in a quandary because of the sheer abundance on display.

So the million dollar question is who are going to be the hits and who are going to be the misses as the hammer comes down to get the action underway.

There are players who can take the bids into dizzy figures and here we take a look at 10 of those who may take home the most heavy purse.

Brendon McCullum: The Kiwi wicketkeeper batsman has proved to be a thorn in the flesh of opposition bowlers on a regular basis and Kolkata Knight Riders may have missed a trick by not retaining him. (Reserve price: $ 400000)

Chris Gayle: The West Indian opener's ability to hit the ball out of the park fairly consistently for Kolkata Knight Riders is sure to have the bidders at the edge of their seats. (Reserve price: $ 400000)

Dale Steyn: There is no substitute for raw pace and the South African speedster has just shown in the recently concluded Test series against India why he is ranked numero uno in the world. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will undoubtedly be the biggest losers as the Steyn gun may turn against them in IPL-4. (Reserve price: $ 200000)

Rahul Dravid: Another player who has proved his worth for the RCB with his batting prowess. The former Indian captain will be a hot proposition as the various franchisees go for the kill. (Reserve price: $ 400000)

Yuvraj Singh: On his day, the Indian middle order batsman can be a real handful for any bowling attack and Kings XI Punjab might not have seen the best of him as yet. (Reserve price: $ 400000)

Adam Gilchrist: The former Australian ace, known more for his lusty hitting and skills behind the wicket, also showcased his leadership qualities by leading Deccan Chargers to IPL glory in the second edition. (Reserve price: $ 400000)

James Anderson: Swing bowling is a dying art but bowlers like Anderson, who can make the ball talk even when the conditions are not favourable, are sure to raise an eyebrow or two come IPL 2011. (Reserve price: $ 400000)

Jacques Kallis: A solid bat and a useful fast medium bowler, Kallis has proved to be a great asset for the South African national side over the years and more recently for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. (Reserve price: $ 300000)

Muttiah Muralitharan: The Lankan spin wizard may have retired from the longer version of the game but continues to be a batsman's nightmare in the 50-over format and the slam bang version. Murali has very much been a cog in the wheel of the Chennai Super Kings success story. (Reserve price: $ 300000)

Kevin Pietersen: The English batter is a proven entity in all three formats of the game and his reverse whack is sure to thrill the spectators in IPL-4. (Reserve price: $ 400000)