Cricket goes under the hammer, players sold out

THE PRICE IS RIGHT: Mahendra Dhoni bought by Chennai Superkings for Rs 6 crore.

ibnlive.com is on mobile now. Read news, watch videos
be a Citizen Journalist. Log on to m.ibnlive.com NOW!

Related Stories

Top Headlines

Top Videos

Most Popular

• Education reform will be for all Indians: Sibal 

• Federer wins record-breaking 15th Grand Slam title | Photogallery 

• Budget preview: Promises to keep | What to expect and what not 

• One-upmanship: Sonia, Pawar in foodgrain politics 

• 5 feared dead in Madhya Pradesh factory explosions 

• Policemen guard Maya's statue wealth across UP 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks | Watch 

• CPI-M leaders to act to curb Kerala infighting 

• Recruiter of child suicide bombers held in Afghan 

• Paes-Black lose Wimbledon mixed doubles final 

• Pranab has promises to keep in Budget of hope 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief 

• Bollywood stars sizzle at the IIFA fiesta 

• IBNFocus: TDS process simplified 

• No minister contacted Madras HC judge: CJI 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• CNN-IBN debate: Homosexuality vs Indian morality 

• Watch: Parties react to HC judgement on gays 

• Railways fail to provide basic facilities to passengers 

• Michael Jackson to be buried without his brain 

• Kambakkht Ishq is not vulgar or offensive: Akshay 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Federer wins record-breaking 15th Grand Slam title 

• Budget preview: Promises to keep 

• Activists disrupt Railways exams in Mysore, Bangalore 

• 5 feared dead in Madhya Pradesh factory explosions 

• Education reform will be for all Indians: Sibal 

• Budget: How policies impact life 

• Chronology of Federer's record 15 Grand Slam titles 

Photogallery

Find us on Facebook | Join IBNLive community

Stay ahead with G-Talk Buddy | Click now!

The Chennai outfit also bagged spin-king Muttiah Muralitharan in the first round for $6,00,000 and later drafted in all-rounders Jacob Oaram of New Zealand and Albei Morkel of South Africa at $6,75,000 apiece. They also managed to pouch top-order left-handers Stephen Fleming and Matthew Hayden for lesser amounts.

Chennai and Hyderabad were the most aggressive in the early rounds with Hyderabad backing Symonds with successful bids for the just retired Adam Gilchrist ($7,00,000) and Herschelle Gibbs ($5,75,000).

Evidently, the eight franchise teams had done their calculations well, proving that the afternoon was not just a glitzy affair owing to the presence of liquor baron Vijay Mallya and cine stars Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta among the franchises.

The Mumbai team, owned by business tycoon Mukesh Ambani and possessing Sachin Tendulkar as their icon player, were late starters in the bid process but quick to gain ground in the second round. Sri Lankan all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya’s stock took no hit for being dropped from their national team as Mumbai offered to pay $9,75,000 for the left-hander. Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh ($8,50,000) too went Mumbai's way in the same round with Robin Uthappa ($8,00,000) and Shaun Pollock ($5,50,000) joining them later in the day.

The IPL, which promises the game not just huge amounts of money but also the chance to showcase the world’s best in the exciting Twenty20 format, gave a glimpse of what to expect in the unique tournament scheduled to begin on April 18 and run up to June 1.