IPL auction
February 6, 2009
Mumbai Indians bought South African sensation JP Duminy for USD 950,000. His base price was initially set at USD 300,000.
Shaun Tait went to the Rajasthan Royals for USD 375,000.
But it was the two Englishmen attracted the most attention as well as the highest bids.
Franchises bid fervently for Andrew Flintoff before Chennai Super Kings finally acquired him USD 1.55 million.
As expected, Bangalore Royal Challengers left no stone unturned as they acquired former England captain Kevin Pietersen for USD 1.55 million.
Fidel Edwards was sold to Deccan Chargers for his base price of USD 150,000.
Chamara Kapugedera found no bidders and remains unsold. He will be up for consideration at the end of the auction. Australian wicket keeper Brad Haddin and Stuart Clark remained unsold as well.
Owais Shah, who was part of Middlesex’s victorious campaign last year, found himself being fought over by Kolkata and Delhi before Bangalore joined the fight. But Delhi were certain they wanted the English batsman and outbid Bangalore to acquire him for USD 275,000.
Paul Collingwood, the English all-rounder, was also acquired by Delhi for USD 275,000.
Tyron Henderson, the big-hitting South African all-rounder who also played for Middlesex last year, was the surprise package. His base price was set at USD 100,000 but was sold at USD 650,000 as Rajasthan and Deccan Chargers fought fiercely to outbid one another before Deccan Chargers finally bowed out.
Phil Jacques, the Australian opener with a base price of USD 100, 000, remained unsold.
Ashwell Prince (USD 150,000), Andre Nel (USD 120,000) found no takers either.
Both Bangalore and Chennai fought for English all-rounder Ravi Bopara (base price: USD 150,000) until Punjab joined the race at USD 400, 000 and eventually acquired him for USD 450,000.
Luke Wright (USD 100,000), another England all-rounder, didn’t attract any bids. Neither did Sri Lanka paceman Nuwan Kulasekara (USD 100,000).
Another Sri Lankan Thilan Thushara was about to be sold for his base price of USD 120,000 before Kolkata expressed their interest and joined Chennai in the race but Chennai eventually got him for USD 140, 000.
The auctioneer mistakenly declared NZ opener Jesse Ryder (USD 100,000) unsold before realizing that Bangalore had bid for him. As it turned out, there were more than a few parties interested before he went to Bangalore for USD 160,000.
Kyle Mills, the Kiwi all-rounder, was bought for his base price of USD 150,000 by the Mumbai Indians.
