The 2014 Indian Premier League will be a buyer's market, meaning New Zealand cricketers need to take care when considering their reserve prices for the auction on February 12.
That includes Corey Anderson, despite his fastest one-day international century off 36 balls against the West Indies at Queenstown on New Year's Day. Other potential Kiwi wildcards are Jimmy Neesham, after his Champions League exploits for Otago, and Mitchell McClenaghan, after world-class performances with the white ball.
The eight IPL franchises have had their salary caps reduced to 60 Indian crore (just under $12 million). In 2013, the figure was $15 million. The depreciation of the Indian rupee (a crore is 10 million rupees) against the US dollar last year means players will now initially be bought in rupees. Overseas players can change their salary to the currency of their choice upon payment date, just in case the rupee further devalues (losing the IPL money).
Another reason it is a buyer's market is the reduction of available squad places from 33 to a maximum of 27; only nine players can be from overseas, cut back from 11.
Each franchise also gets first option to retain five players from the previous season. For example, the Daniel Vettori-coached Royal Challengers Bangalore have taken first dibs on Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli. The first player retained has a salary cap of 12.5 crore ($2.4 million); the fifth player (if required) has a cap of four crore ($771,000).