Apna Pakistan

	Misbah-ul-Haq was the first high-profile player to be signed up in the second round of auctions © AFP

Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan batsman, and India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Virat Kohli have been bought by the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the second round of the Indian Premier League’s player auction in Mumbai on Tuesday. Misbah, who nearly took Pakistan to victory in the ICC World Twenty20 last year, was bought for US$125,000.

Dimitri Mascarenhas, the England allrounder, was signed on by the Jaipur franchise for $100000, making him the first England player to be auctioned at the IPL. There had been a question mark over the participation of English players - excluded from the first round of the auction - in the IPL season, as it overlaps with the beginning of the county season. However, his county, Hampshire, has said it will give Mascarenhas the necessary no-objection certificate.

The Jaipur franchise also signed up South African fast bowler Morne Morkel ($60,000), Australian allrounder Shane Watson ($125000), Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir ($100000) and a couple of Indian U-19 players in Taruwar Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja.

The Kolkata franchise, now named the Kolkata Knight Riders, has bought two Pakistanis - Salman Butt ($100,000) and Mohammad Hafeez ($100,000) - and two U-19 players in Siddarth Kaul and Iqbal Abdulla.

The Australians James Hopes ($300,000) and Luke Pomersbach ($50,000) and New Zealand bowler Kyle Mills ($150,000), have been bought by the Mohali franchise, in addition to two U-19 players in Tanmay Srivastava and Ajitesh Argal.

Pradeep Sangwan, the left-arm seamer who impressed in his debut Ranji Trophy season and at the U-19 World Cup, will represent the Delhi Daredevils, as will uncapped Tasmanian fast bowler Brett Geeves ($50,000).

Bangalore also signed up Bangladesh left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak ($50,000), New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor ($100,000) and Indian U-19 wicketkeeper Shreevats Goswami.

South African batsman Ashwell Prince was bought by the Mumbai Indians for $175,000, in addition to U-19 players in Saurabh Tiwary and Manish Pandey. Napoleon Einstein and Abhinav Mukund, two Tamil Nadu players from the U-19 World Cup, and Vidarbha’s Viraj Kadbe will represent the Chennai Super Kings.

Adam Gilchrist believes the relationships between Australia and India cricketers will be boosted by the Indian Premier League after a season filled with controversy fuelled by both camps. The teams meet for two or three CB Series finals over the next week and the games will be Gilchrist’s farewell from international cricket.

He says the situation during India’s tour has “got out of hand somewhat” but he hopes the IPL will help heal some of the rifts, as players from both nations are thrust into teams together. “That’s where I see something like the IPL is going to be ground-breaking territory,” Gilchrist told the Sunday Telegraph.

“That’s going to be an opportunity for players around the world to get to meet, know and understand opposition cultures and customs. I think that’s going to be a very positive off-shoot of the IPL. Any world XI team I’ve ever played in there’s always been a great camaraderie in the rooms.”

It would have been an interesting scenario had Harbhajan Singh ended up in the same squad as Andrew Symonds or Matthew Hayden, but Harbhajan is at Mumbai and no Australians were drafted by that franchise. Hayden went to Chennai, alongside Mahendra Singh Dhoni, while Symonds and Gilchrist are both going to Hyderabad, where the Indian contingent includes RP Singh and VVS Laxman. Ricky Ponting’s new team-mates at Kolkata include Ishant Sharma and Sourav Ganguly.

If Australia’s players are available for the IPL this season - their involvement depends on whether the tour of Pakistan goes ahead - they will have six weeks to cool off between the end of the CB Series and the start of the tournament. Gilchrist conceded the home summer had been a difficult one for some of his colleagues.

“There’s been evidence that the players probably haven’t been able to totally represent exactly how they’ve felt,” he said. “It’s grown beyond just the cricket, it’s a business now and I think people are mindful of that.

“I don’t think the players can totally complain too much, though, because it’s a professional world and we’re the beneficiaries of that professionalism, financially and by way of support off field. The support structure around players is as good as ever and we need to bear all that in mind.

“The situation this summer has got out of hand somewhat. Hopefully over the next week we see some great cricket, the series will finish and we’ll all just move on and forget the almost tit-for-tat reactions that have been going on. Both teams are going to be extremely keen to get on and win this one and take a good memory out of what’s been an exhausting summer.”

IPL Teams, Squads, and international signed players

	With Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist in the side, expect big hits during Hyderabad’s games © AFP

As the dust settles on the frenzied IPL auction, it’s time to look at what the 44-day extravaganza will be all about: building a balanced team capable of winning the title. It’s early days yet, with most squads not even half complete, but several trends have emerged.

It would be premature to tip the favourites yet - the teams still have to settle on U-22 players, others outside the pool - but it’s worth exploring the line-ups. While Hyderabad have gone for batting fireworks, Delhi have preferred athleticism on the field. If Bangalore have chosen bowlers who can turn it on, Kolkata seem to have preferred an experienced batting line-up. Here we run the rule over the eight teams.

Hyderabad

USP: Packed with explosive power-hitters. Expect sixes to fly as Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Herschelle Gibbs and Shahid Afridi tee off. They also have some solidity in the middle with Rohit Sharma and Chamara Silva capable of making up for a collapse.

Chink: With three left-arm seamers in RP Singh, Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa, they lack bowling variety.

The steal: At US$175,000, Scott Styris is a steal. Capable of big hits and intelligent nudges, Styris brings an additional dimension to the side. Take into account his useful medium-pace, and you have a potential MVP for the IPL.

Squad so far: Adam Gilchrist (US$700,000), Andrew Symonds (US$1.35 million), Herschelle Gibbs (US$575,000), Shahid Afridi (US$675,000), Scott Styris (US$175,000), VVS Laxman (US$375,000), Rohit Sharma (US$750,000), Chamara Silva (US$100,000), RP Singh (US$875,000), Chaminda Vaas (US$200,000), Nuwan Zoysa (US$110,000)

Chennai Super Kings

USP: With six left-hand batsmen in their line-up, Chennai pose a big threat. Matthew Hayden, Jacob Oram and Albie Morkel will be expected to strike the big ones while Stephen Fleming, Suresh Raina and Parthiv Patel can consolidate. Adding to the mix is Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the most prized player in the league.

Chink: In a format where spinners have thrived, Muttiah Muralitharan is the only spinner so far. Expect a few more slow bowlers when they finalise the rest of their squad.

Bizarre bargain: Albie Morkel is a useful allrounder but even he might be a bit shocked with the US$675,000 that was shelled out for him.

Squad so far: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (US$1.5 million), Muttiah Muralitharan (US$600,000), Matthew Hayden (US$375,000), Jacob Oram (US$675,000), Stephen Fleming (US$350,000), Parthiv Patel (US$325,000), Joginder Sharma (US$225,000), Albie Morkel (US$675,000), Suresh Raina (US$650,000), Makhaya Ntini (US$200,000), Michael Hussey (US$350,000)

Mohali

USP: Fine balance in the bowling with two genuine quicks (Brett Lee and Sreesanth), a swing bowler (Irfan Pathan) and two spinners (Ramesh Powar and Piyush Chawla).

Chink: Not much firepower at the top. They need a batsman who can kickstart the innings.

Buzz:Their coach Tom Moody, who had a successful two-year stint as Sri Lanka’s coach up to the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, could have had a say in Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara being included.

Squad so far: Yuvraj Singh (icon), Mahela Jayawardene (US$475,000), Kumar Sangakkara (US$700,000), Brett Lee (US$900,000), Sreesanth (US$625,000), Irfan Pathan (US$925,000), Ramesh Powar (US$170,000), Piyush Chawla (US$400,000), Simon Katich (US$200,000), Ramnaresh Sarwan (US$225,000)

Kolkata

	At US$150,000 Umar Gul is one of the best deals of the day © AFP

USP: Shah Rukh Khan’s side has gone for the crowd pullers. Shoaib Akhtar, Ricky Ponting, Chris Gayle and Ishant Sharma give Sourav Ganguly a real star cast.

Chink: Two of their four fast bowlers - Shoaib Akhtar and Ajit Agarkar - are prone to be erratic. While one frequently breaks down, the other often blows hot and cold.

The steal: Umar Gul at US$150,000 must go down as one of the best bargains. A bowler capable of firing in yorkers under pressure, and who finished as the highest wicket-taker in the World Twenty20 in South Africa, must be worth more.

Bizarre bargain: In contrast to the canny deal for Gul, the US$950,000 they splashed on rookie fast bowler Ishant Sharma is perplexing. While he has been outstanding on the Australian tour, he is still untested at the Twenty20 level and doesn’t yet have the star power to command such a high valuation.

Squad so far: Sourav Ganguly (icon), Shoaib Akhtar (US$425,000), Ricky Ponting (US$400,000), Brendon McCullum (US$700,000), Chris Gayle (US$800,000), Ajit Agarkar (US$330,000), David Hussey (US$675,000), Ishant Sharma (US$950,000), Murali Kartik (US$425,000), Umar Gul (US$150,000), Tatenda Taibu (US$125,000)

Mumbai

USP: A ballistic top order that includes Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya and Robin Uthappa.

Chink: No wicketkeeper yet. It means they might have to settle on a domestic wicketkeeper, not an ideal situation in a high-pressure contest.

Bizarre bargain: Harbhajan Singh, at US$850,000, must be termed a pricey deal. There’s a buzz doing the rounds that his friendship with Sachin Tendulkar, Mumbai’s icon player, could have sealed his spot.

Squad so far: Sachin Tendulkar (icon), Sanath Jayasuriya (US$975,000), Harbhajan Singh (US$850,000), Shaun Pollock (US$550,000), Robin Uthappa (US$800,000), Lasith Malinga (US$350,000), Dilhara Fernando (US$150,000), Loots Bosman (US$175,000)

Bangalore Royal Challengers

USP: A bowling attack capable of surprising. Dale Steyn provides the speed while Zaheer Khan and Nathan Bracken are contrasting left-arm seamers who can bowl at the death.

Chink: In Wasim Jaffer, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis they probably have one stodgy player too many. Not the ideal set of batsmen you would want while chasing 200 in 20 overs.

Bizarre bargain: Cameron White, who has played just one Twenty20 international for Australia, seems a strange pick at US$500,000. However, his strike-rate of 160 in domestic Twenty20 games, as well as his ability to bowl legspin, might have tilted the scales.

Squad so far: Rahul Dravid (icon), Anil Kumble (US$500,000), Jacques Kallis (US$900,000), Zaheer Khan (US$450,000), Mark Boucher (US$450,000), Cameron White (US$500,000), Wasim Jaffer (US$150,000), Dale Steyn (US$325,000), Nathan Bracken (US$325,000), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (US$200,000)

Delhi Daredevils

	The Delhi Daredevils look the best fielding unit © AFP

USP: As of now, they look the best fielding side in the fray. Tillakaratne Dilshan and AB de Villiers lead the way while Dinesh Karthik, Shoaib Malik, Gautam Gambhir and Manoj Tiwary make up a seriously good back-up.

Chink: All their specialist bowlers are foreign players. Each team will be allowed only four overseas players in their starting XI and it could turn into a handicap at some stage.

The steal: AB de Villiers is one of the best fielders going around. He can also turn games with the bat. At US$300,000 Delhi got him for a song.

The buzz: TA Sekhar, the bowling coach with the MRF pace foundation, is involved with sports administration in Delhi. That might be one of the reasons they picked up the accurate duo of Mohammad Asif and Glenn McGrath.

Squad so far: Virender Sehwag (icon), Daniel Vettori (US$625,000), Shoaib Malik (US$500,000), Mohammad Asif (US$650,000), AB de Villiers (US$300,000), Dinesh Karthik (US$525,000), Farveez Maharoof (US$225,000), Tillakaratne Dilshan (US$250,000), Manoj Tiwary (US$675,000), Gautam Gambhir (US$725,000), Glenn McGrath (US$350,000)

Jaipur

USP: Fine brains-trust in Shane Warne, Graeme Smith and Younis Khan. One captains an international side and the other two might have turned into fine leaders too.

Chink: No real athleticism in the side. Warne and Justin Langer aren’t spring chickens and no one is likely to confuse Munaf Patel with Jonty Rhodes.

Bizarre bargains: Yusuf Pathan, with just one Twenty20 international, and Mohammad Kaif, who isn’t even in the reckoning for a spot in the Indian national side, don’t seem to deserve US$1.15 million between them.

Squad so far: Shane Warne (US$450,000), Graeme Smith (US$475,000), Younis Khan (US$225,000), Kamran Akmal (US$150,000), Yusuf Pathan (US$475,000), Mohammad Kaif (US$675,000), Munaf Patel (US$275,000), Justin Langer (US$200,000)

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is an assistant editor at Cricinfo