Among the marquee players, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja became the star player when Chennai Super Kings snapped him up for a whopping $2 million (Rs 9.72 crore).
Muttiah Muralitharan moved to the Royal Challengers Bangalore team for $2.2 million and Mahela Jayawardene was taken by Delhi Daredevils for $1.4 million.
It was a hotly-contested bid between Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers for today’s star Jadeja . While his reserve price was $100,000, he was finally sold for $2 million. Deccan Chargers lost the bid yet again when Mahela Jayawardene was taken by Delhi Daredevils. His base price was $300,000.
At midway, the auction list for the fifth season of IPL to be held in April-May this year, looks like this: of the 46 players, 17 were picked up by the seven franchisees.
B McCullum for $900,000 by Kolkota Knight Riders and Muttiah Muralitharan for $220,000 by Royal Challengers Bangalore.
In the second set: Of the 10 only two were taken: H Gibbs for $50,000 at base price by Mumbai Indians and Hodge for $475,000 by Rajasthan Royals.
In the third set, of the five wicket keepers, only two got sold: D Chandimal for $50,000 to Rajasthan Royals and Parthiv Patel for $650,000 to Deccan Chargers.
In the fourth set of 10 all-rounders, only two got sold: M Johnson for $300,000 to Mumbai Indians and A Russell for $450,000 to Delhi Daredevils.
In the fifth set of bowlers, RP Singh was bought for $600,000 by Mumbai Indians, R Vinay Kumar for $100,000 by Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sreesanth for $400,000 by Rajasthan Royals.
In the sixth set of spin bowlers, Ramesh Powar for $160,000 to Kings Eleven Punjab, B Hogg for $100,000 to Rajasthan Royals, Sunil Narine for $700,000 to Kolkata Knight Riders.
Funds remaining
Chennai Super Kings: nil; Deccan Chargers: $1.35 million; Delhi Daredevils: $1.5 million; Kings Eleven: $1.74 million; Kolkata Knight Riders: $400,000; Mumbai Indians: $950,000; Royal Challengers Bangalore: $220,000.
Status at lunch:
Total number of players -- Chennai Super Kings 25, Deccan Chargers 24, Delhi Daredevils 30, Kings XI Punjab 26, Mumbai Indians 26, Rajasthan Royals 29, Royal Challengers Bangalore 26, Kolkata Knight Riders 22.
Number of foreign players: CSK 10; Deccan Chargers 7; Delhi Daredevils 10; Kings XI Punjab 8; Mumbai Indians 10; Rajasthan Royals 9; Royal Challengers Bangalore 10; and Kolkata Knight Riders 9.
In the afternoon session, Daniel Harris has been picked up by Deccan Chargers for $70,000 and Kevon Cooper to Rajasthan Royals for $50,000.
Thisara Perera has been sold to Mumbai Indians for $650,000.
