Ben Stokes was the hottest buy of Day 1 at the Indian Premier League (IPL) players’ auction here on Monday, with Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) shelling out a whopping ₹14.5 crore for the English all-rounder. Stokes is the second most expensive player after Virat Kohli (₹15 crore) among the IPL players.

The tenth edition of IPL Twenty20 cricket league is to begin from April 5.

At Monday’s auction, the second most expensive player was also another English cricketer, pacer Tymal Solomon Mills for ₹12 crore by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

IPL Players’ Auction saw the big teams — RCB, Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians and Kolkatta Knight Riders (KKR) — loosening their purse-strings to pick quality players, while the others — RPS, Kings XI Punjab, Gujarat Lions and Sunrisers Hyderabad — preferred to go after numbers.

RPS set the tone for the auction by outbidding Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils and RCB to bag Stokes. Later, briefing reporters, RPS owner Sanjeev Goenka said Stokes was a complete player and the team picked him to plug that gap.

“Yes we know his availability is limited. He will be available only for the first 14 matches but they are the ones we are concentrating on. It was a very conscious strategy to go for Stokes. New captain of RPS Steven Smith and team coach Stephen Flemming were part of the collective decision,” he explained.

In its bid to pick Tymal Solomon Mills, RCB, starting off offering ₹50 lakh, had to pick up pace to stump Mumbai Indians and Kolkatta Knightriders.

Amrut Thomas, RCB Chairman, said the team had been eyeing Mills after the withdrawal of Mitchell Starc and in Bengaluru conditions and the small ground, the English cricketer would suit its play plan.

“He suits the playing conditions in the city. We will be missing Starc, but the decision was taken by both parties and was as planned. It was good for everybody. Had we insisted on retaining him, it would have been difficult for Starc to take that much of a load,” he added.

Monday’s major surprises were two players from Afghanistan. Eighteen-year-old leg-spinner Rashid Khan made history when he was picked for ₹4 crore by Sunrisers Hyderabad though his country’s captain, Mohammed Nabi, could get a bid for ₹30 lakh.

Mumbai Indian’s owner, Nita Ambani, who was accompanied by her son Ashok, said they were not disappointed to miss Stokes, but were happy for him that he got a good price. “Stokes was an option for us. You have to leave your disappointments once you come outside the auction venue. Apart from this, we are very happy with the players we bought today.”

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