Chennai: Michael Clarke, one of the top paid cricketers in IPL auction this year, may be handed over Pune Warriors’ captaincy for whom he has played few matches in the event’s fifth edition.

Clarke is not a familiar figure in T20 format and moreover he has not even played T20 cricket frequently. Clarke was bought for his base price $400,000 by the Sahara group. It looks to be a fair deal as his price didn’t get much higher as Sahara group plucked him for the base price.

Clarke, who came in as a replacement for Yuvraj Singh last season, may not be an automatic choice in the playing eleven and it was a telling story when no other franchise except Pune bid for the batsman.

“We all know it very well that Clarke is a good captain. He has been a great leader for Australia. We haven’t decided anything on it, but we will surely give it a thought. Clarke has the experience that he can share with the younger players. He has been the highest run getter in last season and he can contribute a lot to the team,” Shara group owner Subroto Roy said.

The franchise, which pulled out of the auctions in 2012 in dramatic circumstances, was active this time around signing Sri Lankan mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, India all-rounder Abhishek Nayar and the little known Australian pacer Kane Richardson for $700,000.

“Mendis is in good form. He has been picking wickets as well whereas Abhishek Nayar has proved with his all-round skill that he has lot to offer to the team and if given a chance he can be as good as an International player,” added Roy.