The IPL is for sure hitting the headlines, for all the wrong reasons, but that isn’t stopping the proceedings as far as the auctions are concerned. In what could be termed as one of the biggest pools of players in the fray so far in the slam-bang version of cricket, 219 capped players (169 Indians and 50 overseas) and 292 uncapped players (255 Indians and 37 overseas players) are going under the hammer.
Even though the pattern of the auctions itself underwent a number of facelifts and alterations, one thing that has remained consistent is the face of the bidding –Richard Madley, who has been a part of this system since the first edition that happened in 2008. The first set of auctions that happened today saw a change in colours for a lot of players.
CSK initiated the buying process, retaining South African Faf du Plessis for Rs 4.75 crore, buying Brendon McCullum for Rs 3.25 crore and Dwayne Romel Smith for Rs 4.50 crore among its other purchases.
In its cart, Delhi Daredevils bagged Murali Vijay for Rs 5 crore, controversial Kevin Pietersen, who was retained for Rs 9 crore, Dinesh Karthik for Rs 12.5 crore, JP Duminy for Rs 2.2 crore, Manoj Tiwary for Rs 2.80 crores, Quinton de Kock with a base price of Rs 1 crore for Rs 3.50 crore and bowler Mohammad Shami for Rs 4.25 crore.
Royal Challengers Bangalore looked like they were executing a neat plan, buying Yuvraj Singh Rs 14 crore, Parthiv Patel as a back-up wicketkeeper for Rs 1.40 crore, all rounder Albie Morkel for Rs 2.40 crore, Bangladeshi Shakib Al Hasan for Rs 2.8 crore and bowlers Mitchell Starc  for Rs 5 Crore. Other purchases included Ashoke Dinda, who they managed to buy for Rs 1 crore, West Indian Ravi Rampaul for Rs 90 lakhs, Muttiah Muralitharan for Rs 1 crore.
Kolkata Knight Riders began their shopping with Jacques Kallis for Rs 5.5 crore, former RCB player Robin Uthappa for Rs 5 crore, retaining Yusuf Pathan for Rs 3.25 crore. They also bought Umesh Yadav for Rs 2.60 crore, Vinay Kumar Rs 2.8 crore, South African Morne Morkel for Rs 2.8 crore, Piyush Chawla for Rs 4.25 crore.
Kings XI Punjab seemed to be in a generous mood, spending money left, right and centre. Their shopping bag looked full with purchases including Virender Sehwag for Rs 3.2 crore, Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson for Rs 6.5 crore, Australian Twenty20 skipper George Bailey for Rs 3.25 crore. Cheteshwar Pujara will now play for them having been sold for for Rs 1.90 crore. They also retained Australian opener Shaun Marsh for Rs 2.20 crore Australia and bought Wriddhiman Saha for Rs 2.2 crore, Sri Lankan all rounder Thisara Perera for Rs 1.6 crore and Lakshmipathy Balaji for Rs 1.8 crore.
New kid-on-the-block Hyderabad Sunrisers too splashed a lot of currency, buying David Warner for Rs 5.5 crore, retained West Indies skipper Darren Sammy for Rs 3.5 crore, also buying Amit Mishra for Rs 4.75 crore, Irfan Pathan for Rs 2.4 crore and Australian opener Aaron Finch for Rs 4 crore. They bowlers they purchased include Ishant Sharma for Rs 2.60 crore, Bhuvneshwar Kumar for Rs 4.25 crore, sealing the Brendan Taylor deal for Rs 30L.
Mumbai Indians seemed to have their resources sorted, going low key in the auctions. Of their shopping, the most significant buys were Michael Hussey for Rs 5 crore and Zaheer Khan for Rs 2.6 crore.
Rajasthan Royals didn’t seem to be in a very generous mood either, settling for players like Brad Hodge, who they retained for Rs 2.4 crore, buying Australian all rounder Steven Smith for Rs 4 crore.
Surprisingly, while many teams went hammer and tongs for some players, Ross Taylor, Naman Ojha, Matthew Wade, England’s Craig Kieswetter, David Hussey, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Azhar Mahmood, Praveen Kumar, Ajantha Mendis and Jesse Ryder found no takers.
Tomorrow’s bidding will see the next set of players go under the hammer. It will be interesting to see how many of the teams that have already spent much of their wallet on the star value go for the kill in tomorrow’s bidding.
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