Bangaluru: Pune Warriors' owner Sushanto Roy's late effort to buy India international Mohammad Kaif was scotched by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), but he is happy to see the Uttar Pradesh captain back in the Indian Premier League (IPL) reckoning.
Though Kaif was bought by RCB for $130,000 (Dh 477,412) he almost went unsold if the new IPL franchises Warriros had not recalled him after the re-bidding for the unsold players was over in the auction. It was all going Pune's way when suddenly Deccan Chargers and RCB owner Vijay Mallya raised the stakes, sending the auction hall at ITC Royal Gardenia into peels of laughter.
Base price
Kaif, who was with Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab in the first three season, had a base price of $100,000 and was the only player to appear for the bidding three times.
Pune Warriors is owned by Lucknow-based Sahara India Pariwar and they were keen on getting the player from their state.
