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IPL 2017: From Ben Stokes to Mehedi Hasan - who are the star names set to be signed?

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The stage is set for the 2017 Indian Premier League, and you can watch it all live on Sky Sports from April 5

The Indian Premier League returns to Sky Sports on April 5, but before then there's the player auction, on Monday...

As many as 351 players are available to be bought by the eight IPL franchises, with eight England boys up for grabs.

Here we pick out some of the bigger names set to be snapped up…

England interest

Eoin Morgan
Image: Eoin Morgan played for Sunrisers Hyderabad during their run to the IPL title in 2016

Of the eight England internationals available, white-ball skipper Eoin Morgan has comfortably the most IPL credentials after stints with Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, and most recently, winning the title with Sunrisers Hyderabad last year.

Chris Jordan and Alex Hales also come with IPL experience, though the former at least played during his spell in Bangalore last year, while Hales had to settle for a spot of bench-warming with the Mumbai Indians in 2015.

KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL - APRIL 03:  Ben Stokes of England bats during the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016 Final match between England and West Indies at Eden G
Image: Ben Stokes is set to be the most sought after of the England contingent in the auction

Ben Stokes is the big draw of the rest of the England contingent, his reserve price of 200 Lakhs (the equivalent of approximately £20m) reflecting that. That places him level with Morgan and Chris Woakes - another potential IPL first-timer - as the most expensive of the bunch.

Jonny Bairstow's 150 Lakhs reserve price is a close second, while Jason Roy (100) and T20-specialist speedster, Tymal Mills (50), look like good value.

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Big-hitting batsmen

New Zealand's Corey Anderson bats during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Bangladesh at McLean Park in Napier on Janu
Image: New Zealand's Corey Anderson has huge T20I and IPL pedigree which should make him an attractive signing

Top of teams' wish-list will be the top-tier hitting talents of New Zealand's Martin Guptill, Corey Anderson, Ross Taylor and Colin Munro.

Guptill was severely underused by the Indians last year, featuring in only three matches due to their opening partnership preference of Rohit Sharma and Lendl Simmons, but he has a T20I century to his name, as well as an ODI double-ton - a staggering unbeaten 237 against the West Indies at the 2015 World Cup.

Talking of impressive ODI feats, in 2014 Anderson broke Shahid Afridi's 17-year-old record of the fastest ODI hundred by one ball, scoring his in 36, though that has since been broken by AB de Villiers (31 balls). The Black Caps allrounder, who played a big role in taking the Indians to the 2015 title, is testing the open market again.

Key's top five IPL picks
Key's top five IPL picks

Rob Key makes his top five picks from the players up for grabs at the IPL auction...

Also up for grabs is Taylor, who has played for as many as FIVE franchises, most recently the Delhi Daredevils. His nomadic IPL existence, however, is an indication he hasn't quite scaled the same heights in the competition as he has on the international stage, which could make teams cautious.

Munro, meanwhile, didn't get much of an opportunity with Kolkata in 2016 - scoring only 30 runs from his four matches - but has a T20I ton to his name as recently as January, although he has scored two ducks since.

Leaving behind New Zealand with a quick hop across the Tasman Sea to Australia, Michael Klinger awaits - arguably the most in-form batsman in world T20 cricket right now.

Michael Klinger made an unbeaten 71 as Perth Scorchers stormed to the Big Bash title
Image: Michael Klinger's consistent runs at the top of the order helped Perth Scorchers to another Big Bash success

Finally celebrating a first international call-up at the ripe old age of 36, the veteran opener has certainly kicked on since his solitary IPL year with the now defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2010.

Much like Klinger, Dan Christian is another to have proven a hugely valuable big-hitting commodity in the T20 Blast and Big Bash, offering up a further all-round threat with the ball and in the field.

Talking of allrounders, there's Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera, as well as West Indies' Jason Holder and the ever-smiling Darren Sammy available in the auction. Also from the Caribbean islands, wildcard Marlon Samuels might be worth a punt.

Weapons with the ball

Kagiso Rabada, South Africa
Image: South Africa speedster Kagiso Rabada is set to play in the IPL for the first time

South Africa's Kagiso Rabada, an IPL rookie, may well be the most sought after bowler in this year's auction, or at least Rob Key certainly thinks so.

Also available are current, and former, international team-mates in the shape of Wayne Parnell, and Kyle Abbott, who quit the Proteas to take up a Kolpak offer with Hampshire in county cricket.

New Zealand's Trent Boult offers that much sought after left-arm threat, while similarly Mitchell Johnson stands out. Especially considering his superb displays in helping Perth to Big Bash success earlier this year - staggering 3-3 figures in the semi-final and then 1-13 in the final.

Mitchell Johnson took 3-3 from his four overs to help Perth Scorchers into the BBL final
Image: Mitchell Johnson took 3-3 from his four overs in the Big Bash semi-final for Perth Scorchers

Though Johnson's struggles for Kings XI Punjab in the last two IPL's might put teams off - 11 wickets in 12 matches, at an average of 40.18, conceding at 9.5 runs an over.

If it does, teams might want to take a look at a younger Australian speedster, albeit one with big question marks over his fitness and durability, Pat Cummins.

While another couple of potential pick-ups from Australia are seamer Nathan Coulter-Nile and evergreen spinner Brad Hogg - just the 46 years old - whose stint with Kolkata has come to an end.

While at the other end of the spinners' spectrum is Bangladeshi teenager and England tormentor - 12 wickets in the Dhaka Test win - 19-year-old offspinner, Mehedi Hasan.

Bangladesh's Mehedi Hasan poses with the match ball and cap after his five wicket haul as he returns to the locker room after the first day of play in the
Image: Bangladesh's Mehedi Hasan poses with the match ball after his 12 wickets in a historic first Test win over England

Any other wildcards?

One final name to keep an eye out for in Monday's auction is Delhi batsman Mohit Ahlawat, who became the first batsman to score 300 in a T20 match, earlier this month.

The 21-year-old took just 72 balls to score his triple century, smashing 39 sixes in his extraordinary innings, and is listed with a reserve price of just 10 Lakhs - enough for his home franchise, the Daredevils, to take a punt?

Mohit Ahlawat in an image posted on social media (Credit: Mohit Ahlawat-Cricketer)
Image: Mohit Ahlawat in an image posted on social media (Credit: Mohit Ahlawat-Cricketer)

Watch an IPL player auction special on Monday as Rob Key and Mark Butcher join Matt Floyd to review the big-money moves, from 9pm on Sky Sports 4.

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