MUMBAI: The auction of players for the seventh season of Indian Premiere League (IPL) is currently underway in Bengaluru and it’s certainly got everyone’s attention. The auction this year is the biggest with 514 players in the pool - 219 capped players (169 Indians / 50 overseas) and 292 uncapped players (255 Indians / 37 overseas).
The first player to go under the hammer was CSK’s opener Murali Vijay, opening at a base price of Rs 2 crore. He will now be seen in the Delhi Daredevil’s camp after the team bought him for a cool Rs 5 crore.
Next up for bidding was Sri Lanka’s ‘Mr.Dependable’ - Mahela Jayawardena - who went unsold.
After having been shunned by the national side - England - the South African-born Kevin Pietersen was next under the hammer and after some frantic bidding went for a high price of Rs 9 crore to Delhi Daredevils as the team used its right-to-match after Sunrisers won the bid.
The biggest bet was for Yuvraj Singh. After the bid for Yuvraj went past Pietersen’s value, Banglore entered the scene and almost got him for Rs 10 crore. KKR then entered the fray and RCB had to finally make a winning bid of Rs 14 crore for the Punjab lad.
The surprise package was Dinesh Karthik, who just about managed to steal Yuvi’s thunder with a cool bid of Rs 12.5 crore from Delhi Daredevils.
Other highlights are:
# CSK bags Kallis for Rs 5.5 crore. But, the Kolkata Knight Riders have matched the bid.
# Virender Sehwag to KXIP Rs 3.20 crore.
# David Warner goes to Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 5.50 crore.
# Brendon McCullum to CSK for Rs 3.25 crore.
# Mumbai Indians get Michael Hussey for Rs 5 crore.
# Sunrisers Hyderabad reclaim Amit Mishra using their right-to-match card. They get him for Rs 4.75 crore.
# Mumbai Indians win the bid for Zaheer with Rs. 2.6 crore.
# Aaron Finch goes to Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs. 4 crore.
# Robin Uthappa sold to KKR for Rs 5 crore.
# Rajasthan Royals win the bid of Rs. 2.40 crore for Brad Hodge.
# KXIP get Shaun Marsh for Rs 2.20 crore.
# Manoj Tiwary to Delhi Daredevils Rs 2.8 crore.
# Dwayne Smith goes to Chennai Super Kings for Rs 4.5 crore.
