Sunrisers retain Dhawan and Steyn

Sunrisers Hyderabad have retained India batsman Shikhar Dhawan and South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn ahead of the IPL 2014 auction. They will have two right-to-match cards available to them at the auction, on February 12.

Dhawan's profile shot up in 2013, when he established himself in the Indian team across all formats. It began with the fastest century by a Test debutant, against Australia in Mohali, and he followed that up with a Man-of-the-Series performance in the Champions Trophy. He was also elevated to the captaincy of Sunrisers during the Champions League of the 2013 season, and was one of the few marquee Indian names in the squad.

Steyn has been the world's leading fast bowlers for several years, and had turned in several match-turning performances last season. He was signed for $1.2m in the 2011 auction, and would have expected similar, or perhaps better, returns in this auction.

Sunrisers coach Tom Moody tweeted: "Great news at @SunRisers we've retained Shikhar Dhawan & @DaleSteyn62 for #IPL2014 - Still have 2 " right to match cards" for auction day!"

After the specified amounts for the two players retained - Rs 125 million for player one and Rs 95 million for player two - are deducted from their salary cap of Rs 600 million (approx. US$ 9.6 million), Sunrisers will be left with Rs 380 million to spend at the auction. This season, each squad must include no less than 16 and no more than 27 players, with a maximum of nine overseas players.

The amount deducted from the auction purse is not necessarily the IPL fee agreed to between the franchise and the retained player.