IPL Auction: India stars dominate day one’s top buys

Indian Premier League
India

Even with huge marquee names on offer from overseas, it was India stars who picked up the biggest paydays on day one of the IPL Auction.

Wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan fetched a whopping $2 million in the auction, to headline the buys on the day.

The Mumbai Indians bought back the 23-year-old Kishan but had to engage fierce bidding war on a dramatic first day in Bangalore.

Kishan made his India debut last year and while his fee fell short of the Indian record of $2.2 million paid to Yuvraj Singh in the 2015 auction, there is no doubt that his stock is rising.

Ten teams, including new additions Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans, started the auction process with a total purse of nearly $75 million to spend across two days.

Uncapped Indian fast bowler Avesh Khan hit the jackpot when he attracted a winning bid of $1.32 million from Lucknow Super Giants.

Up and comers Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia, went to Punjab Kings and Gujarat and saw their base price of $53,000 balloon $1.19 million after further bidding battles.

The second most expensive player was bowling all-rounder Deepak Chahar, who will head back to the Chennai Super Kings for a cool $1.85 million.

Shreyas Iyer saw his services procured by Kolkata Knight Riders for $1.62 million.

KKR also secured a return for Australia’s Pat Cummins, who returns for nearly $1 million.

India seamer Harshal Patel may have played just two T20Is last year, but he went for $1.42 million to Royal Challengers Bangalore, who also bagged Sri Lankan spin-wizard Wanindu Hasaranga at the same price.

The auction kicked off with India opener Shikhar Dhawan going to Punjab Kings for $1.09 million.

Punjab also nabbed South African pace bowler Kagiso Rabada for $1.22 million.

New Zealand pace bowler Trent Boult also crossed the million-dollar threshold with his $1.06 million signing by Rajasthan Royals, who would win the bidding for Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis went to Royal Challengers Bangalore while Delhi Capitals got David Warner for $826,000.

West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran went to Sunrisers Hyderabad for $1.42 million, while compatriot Jason Holder went to Lucknow for $1.16 million.

New Zealand quick Lockie Ferguson went to Gujarat for $1.32 million, while England pace bowler Mark Wood will feature for Lucknow for $1 million, showing the great demand for world-class quicks.

Top 10 player bids on day one of IPL auction

Team                                        Player                     Price

Mumbai Indians                        Ishan Kishan              $2 million

Chennai Super Kings               Deepak Chahar          $1.85m

Kolkata Knight Riders               Shreyas Iyer              $1.62m

Delhi Capitals                           Shardul Thakur          $1.42m

Royal Challengers Bangalore   Harshal Patel             $1.42m

Royal Challengers Bangalore   Wanindu Hasaranga  $1.42m

Sunrisers Hyderabad                Nicholas Pooran        $1.42m

Gujarat Titans                            Lockie Ferguson       $1.32m

Lucknow Super Giants              Avesh Khan               $1.32m

Rajasthan Royals                      Prasidh Krishna         $1.32m

Deepak Chahar Ishan Kishan Shreyas Iyer

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