IPL franchises have received a shot in the arm with reports suggesting England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler will be available for the February auctions. Three teams -- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI) -- have shown an interest in signing the player, which might lead to a big battle during the IPL auction.
Initially, IPL teams were not sure regarding Buttler's availability, but, now with the aggressive right-hander set to feature, the franchises are more than eager to sign a player of such quality.
Last week, England coach Trevor Bayliss also stated that Buttler could play in the IPL. The England Cricket Board also seems to have given the player the green signal to participate in the IPL and gain experience.
Among a number of top stars in the auction, Yuvraj Singh and Jos Buttler could be two of the biggest names to go under the hammer. When these players' names come up during the auction, one can expect some fierce bidding.
The Telegraph report that KKR, SRH and MI are interested in signing Buttler, as he can add great value to any team he signs for in the IPL. If there is a bidding war for the Englishman, SRH stands the best chance of signing the player, as the franchise has more money in their purse during the IPL auction, compared to the other two teams. SRH have a balance purse of 30.15 cr, while KKR and MI have 17.95 cr and 14.405 cr each.
SRH have retained 14 players from last season, which means that the franchise have quite a few players more to sign to fill their squad. With KKR and MI having retained 19 and 15 players respectively, a fascinating auction seems to be on the cards with three teams keen on Buttler. However, one cannot not rule out one of the other teams from joining the battle for Buttler.
