Top Indian Players on Sale for IPL-4

Stalwarts Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, as well as in-form opener Gautam Gambhir, were not retained by their franchises for 2011 and 2012 IPL seasons and will go into the players' auction pool to be bought by interested teams.

Kumble, who led Royal Challengers Bangalore in the last two seasons of the T20 League, and Dravid have been set free for the January 8-9 auction by RCB who have kept only Virat Kohli, on the strength of his stupendous form for India in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand.

With the deadline for player retention ending on Wednesday, former India captain and Bengal icon Ganguly was also not retained by under-performing Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kokata Knight Riders. Only swashbuckling West Indian opener Chris Gayle has found favour with KKR's owners, according to informed sources.

The surprise decision is that of Delhi Daredevils not retaining Gambhir, who scored back-to-back ODI hundreds against the Kiwis, and continue his partnership with Virender Sehwag who is the lone player to be retained by the two-time semifinalists.

The two franchises who played in last season's IPL final - champions Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians - have retained their full quota of players. 

The Franchise and player must mutually agree to be retained and the player Fee to be paid by the franchise to the player for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Irrespective of the actual player Fee to be paid to the player, the Salary Cap for the Franchise shall be charged $1.8 million per annum for retaining the first player, $1.3m pa for the second player, $0.9m pa for the third player and $ 0.5m pa for the fourth player.

Thus if a franchise retains and signs four players, its salary cap will be charged by $4.5m in each of 2011 and 2012 seasons and it will have only $4.5m remaining to pay as player fees for the remainder of its registered squad.