Abbott leads Aussie charge to IPL auction

The KFC T20 Big Bash League continues to propel Australia's cricketing talents onto the world stage and the spotlight of the Indian Premier League.

At least 17 Australians are set to feature in the eighth edition of the tournament in April and May after their IPL franchises renewed contracts.

A further seven – including Australia's T20 captain Aaron Finch – were released back into the player auction.

Joining Finch in the auction is an expected swathe of Australian talent from the BBL including run-scoring machines Tim Ludeman and Travis Head, rising fast bowling whiz Jason Behrendorff, leg-spinner Adam Zampa and allrounder Sean Abbott.

A report in the Mumbai Mirror said at least two franchises were interested in bidding on Abbott, who made his Australian T20 and one-day international debuts last October against Pakistan in the UAE.

Abbott, who has taken six wickets for the Sydney Sixers this season, has registered for next month's IPL auction with a base price of 50 Lakh ($100,000) but could expect his services to reap considerably more.

"He makes cricket sense. Top officials of two IPL franchisees said Abbott would definitely be picked up by a team," the Mirror's report said.

The interested franchises were not identified, claiming revealing their interest "could compromise their teams' strategy at the auction".

One possible suitor could be the Mumbai Indians, who will be coached by former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting in 2015, with former Black Caps quick Shane Bond as the bowling coach.

Abbott has been a man on the rise since winning the Steve Waugh Medal as New South Wales best player in 2013-14. It saw him earn his limited overs caps against Pakistan and he played a further two T20s against South Africa in November. 

Abbott's red-ball form has also been impressive this summer, with his six wickets routing Queensland in the first Bupa Sheffield Shield game at the SCG after the tragic death of Phillip Hughes.

Mitchell Johnson is set to be the top-earning Australian at IPL8, with Kings XI Punjab renewing his contract after purchasing him for $1.2m in 2014.

Kings XI have also retained Glenn Maxwell ($1.1m) and George Bailey ($645,000).

Rajasthan Royals are again set to be the team with the heaviest Australian influence, with five Aussies retained for their 2015 squad.

Steve Smith, Shane Watson, James Faulkner, Kane Richardson and Ben Cutting will all return to India for the tournament which is due to start a week after the World Cup final.

Australians in IPL8:

Retained players: Nathan Coulter-Nile (Delhi), George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh (KXIP), Chris Lynn, Pat Cummins (KKR), Josh Hazlewood (Mumbai), Shane Watson, Ben Cutting, James Faulkner, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith (Rajasthan), Mitchell Starc, Nic Maddinson (RCB), David Warner, Moises Henriques (Hyderabad).

Released players: Ben Hilfenhaus, John Hastings, David Hussey (CSK), Michael Hussey, Ben Dunk (Mumbai), Brad Hodge (Rajasthan), Aaron Finch (Hyderabad).