opener Gautam Gambhir on Saturday became the costliest cricketer in the IPL by attractive a whopping USD 2.4 actor (approx Rs 11.04 crore) on the aboriginal day of the auctions area Indian players accepted to be the better draw with three others activity for added than USD two million.In a high-profile auction, area Bollywood stars and accumulated bigwigs were bound in a behest war, Kolkata Knight Riders bought Gambhir for the extraordinary sum, assault the antecedent aerial set by the English duo of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff (USD 1.55 million) aftermost season. Shah Rukh Khan was not present in actuality but his Kolkata Knight Riders, which had been bargain to an also-ran in the aftermost two seasons, accepted to be the big spender of the day by additionally affairs accent all-rounders Yusuf Pathan (Rs 9.66 crore) and Jacques Kallis (Rs 5.06 crore) for the fourth copy of accident to be captivated from April 8 to May 20.Gambhir, who was captain of the Delhi Daredevils aftermost season, saw his bulk accelerate 12 times from his abject bulk of USD 200,000 (Rs 92 lakh) while three added Indian players - Yusuf (USD 2.1 million), Rohit Sharma (USD 2 million) and Robin Uthappa (2.1 million) beyond the two actor mark
Yusuf's adolescent brother Irfan, who has not played any candid this season, was taken by Delhi Daredevils for a decidedly aerial bulk of USD 1.9 (Rs 8.74 crore) million.But there were some abruptness names in the unsold annual with above India and KKR captain Sourav Ganguly, West Indies batting brilliant Chris Gayle and the allegorical Brian Lara declining to acquisition a buyer.There is still a abbreviate adventitious of these players award a aggregation afterwards their names appear up afresh in the additional annular of bidding.The behest trend at the bargain at times appeared to baffle argumentation but what was assertive was that the franchises were accommodating to absorb big money on the Indian players. Mahela Jayawardene was the best big-ticket adopted amateur activity to Kochi at USD 1.5 actor (Rs 6.90 crore).
Cricket aside, Bollywood stars Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty provided the allure caliber while liquor baron Vijay Mallya, his son Siddharth, Nita Ambani and Nusli Wadia added the accumulated ambience at the auction.Cricketing accuracy such as Anil Kumble, Stephen Fleming, Geoff Lawson and Darren Lehmann, who accept been roped in either as coaches or advisers by the franchises, helped them assignment out the behest strategies.As expected, big money was spent but the way it was spent on some players was baffling. Robin Uthappa, who has been out of civic reckoning for absolutely some time, was bought for an alarming USD 2.1 actor (Rs 9.66 crore) by Sahara Pune Warriors who opened their annual by affairs Yuvraj Singh for USD 1.8 actor (Rs 8.28 crore approx).
Pune got Yuvraj, the figure amateur of Kings XI Punjab till aftermost season, afterwards assault Aggregation Kochi and the batsman's above aggregation in the bid.
Even Rohit Sharma's bulk of USD 2 actor (Rs 9.2 crore), which Mumbai Indians paid, came as a abruptness in an bargain area accurate T20 specialists such as Jesse Ryder, Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher and Graeme Swann went unsold.There was acute behest for Gambhir, who was the aboriginal amateur beneath the hammer, from Pune and Mumbai afore KKR abutting the affray afterwards it beyond the actor dollar mark.Kings XI Punjab additionally absent the bid of Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene who was bought by Kochi for USD 1.5 million.The Royal Challengers Bangalore bought Zaheer Khan for USD 900,000 and adventurous Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan for USD 650,000.However, the Vijay Mallya-owned authorization had a award-winning bolt in accomplished South African AB de Villiers, affairs him for USD 1.1 actor (Rs 5.06 crore). They additionally got New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori for alone USD 550,000.
The Rajasthan Royals bought New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor for USD 1 actor (Rs 4.6 crore). But what angry out to be a abruptness was South African off-spinner Johan Botha actuality bought afterwards a lot of behest for USD 950,000.However, Kevin Pietersen, who was one of the best approved afterwards players in the additional and third edition, was bought by Deccan Chargers for USD 650,000 abundant beneath than his actor dollar bulk in the beforehand years.Andrew Symonds, who was one of the costliest players during division one, was bought for USD 850,000 by Mumbai Indians.After the aboriginal two rounds, Aggregation Kochi had bought the best bristles players (Mahela Jayawardene, Brendon McCullum, VVS Laxman, S Sreesanth and Rudra Pratap Singh).Kochi were absolutely advantageous to shop for McCullum for as low a bulk as USD 475,000 because his acceptability as a T20 dasher.Sahara Pune Warriors were additionally a gainer as they got South African captain Graeme Smith for USD 500,000 only.
Kings XI Punjab who absent all their key players including the Lankan duo of Kumar Sangakkara (bought by Deccan Chargers for USD 650,000) and Jayawardene (USD 1.5 actor for Kochi) and Yuvraj to Pune assuredly had article to acclamation aback they auspiciously bid for above Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist for USD 900,000.After the cafeteria break, there were some added surprises with the adolescent Saurabh Tiwary bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for USD 1.6 actor (Rs 7.36 crore). Punjab additionally spent USD 1.4 actor (approx Rs 6.34 crore) on Australian David Hussey.South African speedster Dale Steyn, who fabricated activity difficult for Indian batsmen during the contempo fatigued Test series, was bought by Deccan Chargers for USD 1.2 actor (Rs 5.5 crore).Australia's injury-plagued speedster Brett Lee went for his abject bulk of USD 400,000 to Kolkata afterwards declining to allure a bid for absolutely a while in the auction.South Africans were hot picks at the bargain with Steyn's clip accomplice Morne Morkel activity to Delhi at USD 475,000.The countdown to the bargain was bedridden by acknowledged altercation amid the BCCI and two authorization -- Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab -- both of whom were initially booted out of the accident over buying issues afore advancing aback through cloister orders.
