Gambhir, Yuvi released

New Delhi, November  15 

Yuvraj Singh was on Thursday released by Kings XI Punjab ahead of the Indian Premier League auction next month. Rajasthan Royals let go left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat after paying a whopping Rs 11.5 crore for his services in the last edition of the tournament.  Delhi Daredevils expectedly released Gautam Gambhir, who stepped down as the team's captain in the middle of the 2018 season after a poor run of form.  Royals released Unadkat but retained Ben Stokes, their another million dollar buy. They had paid a whopping Rs 12.5 crore for the premier England all-rounder. Senior Australian batsman Steve Smith has been retained after missing the 2018 IPL due to suspension.  Sunrisers Hyderabad have dumped injured Wriddhiman Saha along with West Indies T20 captain Carlos Brathwaite. 

Australia's World Cup stars to miss parts of IPL: CA    

Sydney: Putting country first, Cricket Australia will not allow its players, picked in the World Cup squad, to take part in the last few weeks of the 2019 Indian Premier League so that they prepare well for the big-ticket event.  Cricket Australia has made it clear that World Cup remains the priority for the defending champions and the players will have to complete their Sheffield Shield commitments and national duties to get approval to play in the IPL. — Agencies

Big releases

• KXIP: Yuvraj Singh, Aaron Finch
• RCB: Brendon McCullum, Corey Anderson
• KKR: Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson
• Delhi Daredevils: Gautam Gambhir, Jason Roy, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Shami
• Chennai Super Kings: Mark Wood
• Sunrisers Hyderabad: Wriddhiman Saha, Alex Hales
• Rajasthan Royals: D'Arcy Short, Heinrich Klaasen
• Mumbai Indians: Pat Cummins, Akila Dananjaya