THE highly-anticipated Indian Premier League auction see’s the world’s best male cricketers go under the hammer, as teams make final preparations to their squads.

From how to watch the IPL auction in the UK and the US, to which players are up for grabs – here’s everything you need to know.

How to watch the IPL auction in the UK

The IPL Auction takes place on December 19, and will start at 7.30am GMT or 1pm Indian Standard Time.

For those wanting to tune in to the auction action from the UK, the auction will be shown live on Sky Sports Mix in the UK, with streaming also available on the Sky Go app.

How to watch the IPL auction in the USA

Aside from UK residents, fans in the United States can also watch the IPL auction.

They can do so via ESPN+.

Which players are up for grabs in the 2024 IPL auction?

According to the BCCI 1,166 players have registered for the auction, of which 333 have been shortlisted – 214 Indian players and 119 from overseas.

However, only 77 slots, including 30 for overseas players, are left to be filled at the mini IPL auction among 10 teams. 

Millions of rupees will be spent with players set to earn huge sums.

Each player has set a base price – the price their bidding will start from.

The players can be sold for much more than that if a bidding war ensues and they can also be signed later in the day if they go unsold in the first round of bidding.

There are 24 England internationals or domestic players in the draw, including Harry Brook – who has been signed by Delhi Capitals in the IPL auction for the 2024 season.

Other names on the list include:

• Chris Woakes
• Adil Rashid
• Phil Salt
• James Vince
• Brydon Carse
• Tom Curran
• Tom Kohler-Cadmore
• Sam Hain
• George Garton
• Jamie Overton
• David Willey
• Sam Billings
• Ben Duckett
• Chris Wood
• Benny Howell
• Luke Wood
• Olly Stone
• Gus Atkinson
• Richard Gleeson
• Chris Jordan
• Tymal Mills
• Ollie Robinson
• George Scrimshaw

Other notable names in the auction include Australian player Pat Cummins – who is going to Sunrisers Hyderabad for a record -breaking 20.50 crore, becoming the most expensive player in the history of IPL.

After sitting out this year’s IPL because of a packed international schedule, Cummins threw himself back in the auction and was the focus of an intense bidding war.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Sunrisers Hyderabad shared a clip and wrote: ”This little Pat of life is called happiness.

”Welcome, Cummins!

”#HereWeGOrange.”

Mitchell Starc and Travis Head, as well as South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw, Gerald Coetzee, and Dilshan Madushanka are also on the list.