Mumbai, Feb 19 Virender Sehwag has been elevated to the status of an 'icon player' on the eve of the auction of players for various franchises of the ambitious Indian Premier League.

"Sehwag has been granted icon status. We are happy," said Yogesh Shetty, CEO, GMR-IPL today.

Sehwag, who was named captain of the IPL's Delhi team earlier in the day, will not be a part of the bid process in which 78 players -- both Indian and foreigners -- will go under hammer to play for their respective city franchises -- Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Mohali and Delhi.

Star players Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh are the other Indians in the elite list for the April 18-June 1 Twenty20 League.

However, India's Test star VVS Laxman is missing from the list which was explained by Shetty, saying "Hyderabad did not ask for Laxman's icon status". (Agencies)