IPL Auction 2017: Date, Format, Rules and Team Budgets

The 10th edition of the Indian Premier League gets under way at the beginning of April, when Sunrisers Hyderabad will begin the tough task of successfully defending their maiden title from last year. 

However, one of the key processes of the 2017 IPL takes place on Saturday with the auction, where high-profile players like Kevin Pietersen, Dale Steyn and Eoin Morgan will be up for grabs.

All eight franchises already have most of the key personnel set in place in their squads, but the auction will give them the opportunity to add any necessary star quality or further depth. 

See below for all the details of the auction, along with the remaining budgets each team has to play with, per IPLT20.com:

Date: Saturday, Feb. 4

Time: 9 a.m. local, 3:30 a.m. GMT

Location: Bengaluru

Team	Auction Budget (Approx)
Delhi Daredevils	$3.16 million
Kings XI Punjab	$3.44 million
Kolkata Knight Riders	$2.91 million
Mumbai Indians	$1.70 million
Rising Pune Supergiants	$2.81 million
Royal Challengers Bangalore	$1.89 million
Sunrisers Hyderabad	$3.10 million
Gujarat Lions	$2.11 million

In-form players can make a huge difference in the IPL, and there are plenty of game-changing talents who could be snapped up in the auction.

With India currently playing a T20 international series against England, there are a number of stars who could be playing their way into an IPL side.

England all-rounder Ben Stokes could be set for his first IPL experience, and the Durham man may well be pursued by Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deepak Vikraman of the International Business Times suggested. They already have Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Mitchell Starc, Chris Gayle and Shane Watson in their squad. 

Though no longer playing on the international scene, Pietersen will, as ever, likely be much sought-after having been released by Rising Pune Supergiants.

Paul Kane/Getty Images

Per James Gray in the Express, the big-hitting batsman suffered a hamstring injury playing for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League recently, and franchises will have to weigh up whether he is worth the risk given his fitness concerns. 

A maximum of 116 players can be selected at the auction to compete in IPL 10, and each side will be looking to get the best value for their remaining money.

High-profile players will cost a lot, but there is often value to be had by signing useful squad players who can prove their worth over the intense IPL season.

The auction is always a much-anticipated event and whets the appetite for the tournament proper getting under way in April.

Saturday is sure to be a day of intrigue and drama, and it should see key players snapped up who will make a big impact in the tournament.