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IPL 2016 Players’ auction: Yuvraj, Watson attract big bids in 1st round
The two new franchises, Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiants, did not disappoint as the ninth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) players’ auction began in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Yuvraj Singh will play for a third franchise in as many years but his stock has considerably dipped as Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for Rs 7 crore, considerably less than what Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore had paid in the previous two seasons, as the ninth edition of the Indian Premier League Players’ Auction commenced in Bengaluru on Saturday.
After the first round of marquee sale, Martin Guptill and Aaron Finch remained unsold but Kevin Pietersen, Dwayne Smith, Ishant Sharma, Shane Watson, Ashish Nehra and Dale Steyn all went for a higher price. Watson, who RCB bought for Rs 9.5 crore, was the highest sold player.
(Follow Live coverage of the auction here)
In case of Yuvraj, there was a period of awkward silence before Mumbai Indians finally broke it with a bid of Rs 2.1 crore. RCB took a cue and soon joined, taking the bidding to Rs 5.5 crore before Mumbai opted out. But Sunrisers spoilt RCB’s attempts to get back Yuvraj when they bid Rs 6 crore. It only went up to Rs 7 crore before RCB gave up and Sunrisers got their marquee player.
The first three players were snapped by the new franchises. Pune started the proceedings by buying Pietersen with Rs 3.5 crore. Next was Dwayne Smith who went to Rajkot for Rs 2.3 crore.
Ishant too wasn’t sought after for some time before Pune started the bidding and they had him ultimately for Rs 3.8 crore.
RCB termed the Watson buy ‘a bargain’ but it was Pune who had first started bidding for the Australian allrounder. Mumbai then picked up the bidding at Rs 6 crore and stretched the bidding till RCB finally had their way with Rs 9.5 crore. Indians went for a better price as was evident in the case of Nehra who went to Sunrisers for Rs 5.5 crore while Dale Steyn went to Rajkot for just Rs 2.3 crore.
(Follow Live coverage of the auction here)
