Zaheer, Yuvraj eye international return

Veterans Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh hope the Indian Premier League will be an important step on their road back to the blue shirt of Team India.

Zaheer, 36, and Yuvraj, 33, both played for India early last year but neither were included in their preliminary 30-man squad for the 2015 World Cup.

Yuvraj made an emotional return to the Indian team in 2012 after receiving treatment for a rare form of cancer, but his return was relatively short-lived and he admitted last year he wasn't certain he would ever play for his country again.

The veterans will play for Delhi Daredevils in this year's IPL under the watch for their former India coach Gary Kirsten.

After a strong season in domestic cricket with Punjab, Yuvraj is looking forward to returning to the big stage of the world's biggest Twenty20 tournament.

"It's been a couple of hard years for me since I have come back from my treatment,” Yuvraj said

"I am in good shape, I have worked very hard and I have had a good domestic season.

"I am confident of doing well and hope that things get better from here and I make it back into the team.”

The veterans are excited to again link with South African Kirsten, who coached the duo during India's triumphant 2011 World Cup campaign.

But they are well aware of the task that faces the Daredevils after they won just two of 14 matches last year to finish last on the table.

And there will be plenty of pressure on Yuvraj to deliver after he was purchased in the auction for an IPL record $3.31 million.

The Daredevils also picked up Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews and Australian trio Gurinder Sandhu, Travis Head and Marcus Stoinis in the auction, while Nathan Coulter-Nile has been retained for this season.

But Zaheer, who was also picked up in the auction, appears to be relaxed heading into his time with his third IPL franchise, having previously played with Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

"I am enjoying playing cricket again," Zaheer said.

"I have been away from cricket for a while now, so just looking forward to get back.

"I am taking one step at a time and IPL is definitely the first step.

"Gary is a very good coach and we have spent a lot of time together, so I hope that we are able to replicate our success with DD this time around.

"We know his working style, even he knows what to expect from us. So I hope that we combine well this season to turn it around for Delhi this time around.

"We are up for it. It's a new challenge. There are a lot of new faces this time in DD, so looking forward to it. We hopefully will be able to turn this season around for Delhi."

The Daredevils play their first match of the tournament against Chennai Super Kings on April 9.

Australians in the 2015 IPL

• Chennai Super Kings: Mike Hussey, Andrew Tye
• Delhi Daredevils: Nathan Coulter-Nile, Gurinder Sandhu, Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis
• Kings XI Punjab: George Bailey, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh
• Kolkata Knight Riders: Pat Cummins, Brad Hogg
• Mumbai Indians: Josh Hazlewood, Aaron Finch, Aiden Blizzard
• Rajasthan Royals: Shane Watson, James Faulkner, Steve Smith, Ben Cutting
• Royal Challengers Bangalore: Mitchell Starc, Nic Maddinson, Sean Abbott
• Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner, Moises Henriques