Dubai: Unheralded Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is the only cricketer to have touched the $ one million mark so far when Mumbai Indians bought him with the price tag before the lunch- break of the player auctions for IPL VI in Chennai today.
Indian players Abhishek Nayar and R.P. Singh also invited unexpectedly high bids as 108 players’ names went under the hammer. Mumbai all-rounder Abhishek Nayar, who performed consistently in the domestic arena, went to Pune Warriors for USD 675,000, a huge improvement on his base price of USD 100,000. Paceman R P Singh also managed to get a good deal from Royal Challengers Bangalore, who bought him for USD 400,000.
South African all-rounder Johan Botha was bought by Delhi Daredevils for USD 450,000. Australian captain Michael Clarke and his predecessor Ricky Ponting, both of whom were marquee players, did not generate much interest among the franchises. The two were sold on their base price of USD 400,000 with Pune Warriors going for Clarke and Mumbai roping in the just-retired Ponting.
Among others who would be smiling all the way to bank are Maxwell's compatriot Luke Pomersbach. The troubled player, who has battled alcoholism, fetched a deal of USD 300,000 with Kings XI Punjab. The 28-year-old batsman started with a base price of USD 50,000.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy was purchased by Hyderabad Sunrisers for USD 425,000, while Australian James Faulkner also had a good day at the auction with Rajasthan Royals shelling out USD 400,000 for him.
The all-rounders drew interest from the franchises with most of them getting decent offers but it turned out to be quite a dampener for all the wicketkeepers in the list as they went unsold. South Africans Vernan Philander and Herschelle Gibbs, West Indian Darren Bravo, England's Ravi Bopara, Australians James Hopes, Matthew Wade and Tim Paine were the prominent names who did not invite a single bid.
The contracts offered at this year's auction are for just this season as all the players will go under the hammer next year.
