IPL Auction 2018: Ben Stokes ends day 1 as costliest buy at 12.5 crores, Root-Gayle among unsold
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England all-rounder Ben Stokes demonstrated he remains cricket`s hot property despite his off-field troubles after being sold for $1.97 million in Saturday`s auction ahead of this year`s Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament.
Rajasthan Royals offered 125 million Indian rupees for the 26-year-old who has been charged with affray following an incident in Bristol last September which cost him a place on England`s Ashes tour of Australia.
"Buzzing to be representing @rajasthanroyals in this years IPL and great to be playing alongside @josbuttler," tweeted Stokes, who was judged IPL`s Most Valuable Player last year when he represented the Pune franchise.
Stokes reunites with Australia captain Steve Smith, who was also at Pune last year. Rajasthan and Chennai return to the league after a two-year suspension following a corruption scandal.
National team mate and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler joined Stokes at Rajasthan but England captain Joe Root found no taker on the opening day of the two-day auction.
The eight franchises also showed no interest in West Indies opener Chris Gayle and fellow Twenty20 stalwart Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka who is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament`s decade-old history.
Hyderabad used their right-to-match option to retain Rashid Khan for 90 million rupees after Punjab made an aggressive bid for the teenaged Afghan spinner.
Australian players, once again, earned big bucks ahead of the 11th edition of the Twenty20 league beginning in April.
Kolkata bought Australia`s limited overs specialist Chris Lynn for 96 million rupees and their Ashes hero Mitchell Starc for 94 million, while Delhi secured the service of all-rounder Glenn Maxwell for 90 million.
Sussex all-rounder Jofra Archer`s stellar Big Bash performance for Hobart Hurricanes made him the subject of a fierce bidding war which ended with Rajasthan buying the Barbados-born player for 72 million rupees, 18 times his base price.
Among the Indians, batsmen Manish Pandey (Hyderabad) and Lokesh Rahul (Punjab) went for 110 million rupees.
The other players' auction list is as follows:
England's Ben Stokes dominated the day 1 of IPL auction 2018 as he was snapped up for a whopping Rs 12.5 crore ($ 1.96 million) by Rajasthan Royals after Kings XI Punjab, Chennai Super Kings also engaged in a fierce bidding war.
Stokes fetched the biggest price at the Indian Premier League auction for a second straight year as three Australians landed in the top six most expensive players.
The affray charge hanging over the all-rounder's head which kept him out of England's failed Ashes campaign and the one-day series against Australia didn't deter the IPL franchise while bidding for him.
The other players' auction list is as follows:
That brings us to an end of Day 1 at VIVO #IPLAuction
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Ankit Singh Rajpoot is sold to @lionsdenkxip for INR 300 lacs VIVO #IPLAuction
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Navdeep Saini is sold to @RCBTweets for INR 300 lacs VIVO #IPLAuction
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Aniket Choudhary is sold to @RCBTweets for INR 30 lacs VIVO #IPLAuction
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
A wicket-keeper who can slot in anywhere in the batting order! We have the young Ishan Kishan in our squad. ????#IPLAuction #MISquad2018 #CricketMeriJaan pic.twitter.com/wwxZzDZuHB
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) January 27, 2018
Paltan, he is not going anywhere else. @krunalpandya24 is here to stay! ????#IPLAuction #MISquad2018 #CricketMeriJaan pic.twitter.com/mLvGuqSvg6
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) January 27, 2018
Krunal Pandya retained by Mumbai Indians
.@mipaltan use their RTM card to retain @krunalpandya24 for INR 880 lacs VIVO #IPLAuction
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Welcome, Gauti!!!
Thanks @kkr for all d support. Will miss Kolkata and Eden. Now, time to try and turn it around for @DelhiDaredevils @IPL. Happy to be back... pic.twitter.com/Wx53ilU9ka
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) January 27, 2018
Here is your pass to Daredevilry, Prithvi Shaw! pic.twitter.com/Uqx7NQO1DX
— Delhi Daredevils (@DelhiDaredevils) January 27, 2018
Shubhman Gill is sold to KKR for Rs. 1.80 cr.
Ishank Jaggi is sold to KKR for Rs. 20 lakhs.
Ricky Bhui is sold to Hyderabad for Rs. 20 lakhs.
Mayank Agarwal is sold to Punjab for Rs. 1.00 cr.
Himanshu Rana remains unsold.
Rahul Tripathi is sold to Rajasthan Royals for Rs. 3.40 cr.
Manan Vohra is sold to RCB for Rs. 1.10 cr.
Siddhesh Lad remains unsold.
Prithvi Shaw is sold to Delhi Daredevils for Rs. 1.20 cr.
Surya Kumar is sold to Mumbai for Rs. 3.20 Cr.
Next up are the uncapped batsmen.
Kolkata uses their RTM to retain Kuldeep Yadav for Rs. 5.80 Cr.
RCB use their RTM to retain Yuzvendra Chahal for Rs. 6.00 Cr.
Whereas, Adam Zampa remains unsold.
Samuel Badree remains unsold.
Amit Mishra is sold to Delhi Daredevils for Rs. 4.0 Cr.
Nice catch Orange Army!!!
Punjab won the bidding war to claim Rashid Khan but SRH used it RTM to retain him for Rs. 9.0 Cr.
The most awaited bid is up!!!
Rashid Khan
RTM is available with Hyderabad.
Karn Sharma is sold to Chennai for Rs. 5.0 Cr.
Welcome to the den, Karn! #PrideOf18 #WhistlePodu #SummerIsComing ???????? pic.twitter.com/81qOcbuiL5
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) January 27, 2018
Thirumbi vandhutomnu sollu. ????????????#ReturnOfTheSuperKings #SummerIsComing #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/rlCISI9iXQ
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) January 4, 2018
English bowler Ish Sodhi remains unsold.
Piyush Chawla retained by KKR for Rs. 4.2 Cr.
Imran Tahir is sold to Chennai for Rs. 1.0 Cr.
Some more #ProteasFire in the den! #ImranTahir#PrideOf18 #WhistlePodu #SummerIsComing ???????? pic.twitter.com/4c6zGiq8qc
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) January 27, 2018
Piyush Chawla to go under the hammer.
Next set is for spin bowlers.
Mitchell McClenaghan remains unsold.
Lasith Malinga remains unsold.
Delhi Daredevils use RTM to retain Mohammad Shami for Rs. 3.0 Cr and Kagiso Rabada for Rs. 4.2 Cr.
Shami Shami yay, Shami yay, Shami ya. @DelhiDaredevils do the Swalla-la-la to Right-To-Match @MdShami11 ????
— Hotstar (@hotstartweets) January 27, 2018
SOLD to #DD for 3 Cr
Watch the Vivo #IPLAuction LIVE now: https://t.co/hmU5rc5LQX #IPL #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/XkDMB0n25D
Pack your bags....actually don't!
— Delhi Daredevils (@DelhiDaredevils) January 27, 2018
You stay here, @KagisoRabada25. ???? pic.twitter.com/4HjFKWkejf
#Knight, @robbieuthappa will continue his love affair with #KKR after we use our RTM to get his services for a 5th consecutive season! ????#KnightsOf2018 #KorboLorboJeetbo #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/TBqhDkBFt4
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) January 27, 2018
Umesh Yadav is sold to RCB for Rs. 4.2 Cr.
Tim Southee remains unsold.
Ishant Sharma remains unsold.
Next up is Umesh Yadav.
Pat Cummins is sold to Mumbai Indians for Rs. 5.4 Cr.
Meanwhile, Delhi poses for the camera.
The @DelhiDaredevils team pose for our lensman at VIVO #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/XEdPnUcac0
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Next up is Pat Cummins.
Australian Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Johnson are remaining unsold.
Mustafizur Rahman, a Bangladeshi pacer, is sold to Mumbai Indians for Rs. 2.2 Cr.
Jos Buttler is sold to Rajasthan for Rs. 4.4 Cr.
This set is over, next set is of fast bowlers.
Sam Billings remains unsold.
Team #KKR all smiles @VIVO #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/UeAtEkFDz7
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Ambati Rayudu is sold to Chennai Super Kings for Rs. 2.2 Cr.
Sanju Samson goes to Rajasthan for Rs. 8.0 Cr.
KKR use their RTM to retain Robin Uthappa and is sold to KKR for Rs. 6.4 Cr.
Naman Ojha remains unsold.
Preity Zinta says:
Back to the #VivoIPLAuction after lunch break ! Hope #kxip fans like how the #kxipsquad is shaping up.... #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi Ting???? pic.twitter.com/S6PykHeqah
— Preity zinta (@realpreityzinta) January 27, 2018
Next wicket-keeper batsman is Dinesh Karthik from India.
And is sold to KKR for Rs. 7.4 Cr.
Wriddhiman Saha is sold to Sunrises Hyderabad for Rs. 5.0 Cr.
Jonny Bairstow remains unsold.
Welcome to the #OrangeArmy @Wriddhipops.
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) January 27, 2018
Looking forward to seeing you fly with the gloves.
You ready to #LiveOrange ?
#IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/MBJM23Pi1Q
Next bid is for Quinton de Kock and is sold to Rs. 2.8 Cr.
Parthiv Patel remains unsold.
It's time for the wicket-keepers.
It was a lovely journey with @KKRiders for the last 7 years, would like to thank them for everything. Excited to be a part of the #OrangeArmy now @SunRisers #IPL2018Auction https://t.co/Y0APIkh82X
— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) January 27, 2018
The #OrangeArmy is kicked to have you part of the squad @iamyusufpathan .
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) January 27, 2018
You ready to #LiveOrange ?#IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/Pc4OIanydO
End of the morning session.
Stay tuned for further updates.
And that's LUNCH - Day 1 of VIVO #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/XS0Temb4yq
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Moeen Ali is sold to RCB for Rs. 1.7 Cr.
A lot of booming blows and a miserly 4 over spell is what we'll get with @MoeenAli in the XI! Welcome to RCB #PlayBold #BidForBold pic.twitter.com/nwz7YUPRs4
— Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) January 27, 2018
RCB won the bidding war but Kings XI has retained Marcus Stoinis for Rs. 1.7 Cr.
We will now break for lunch and it's been a very eventful first session. This is where we stand so far. What do you make of our buys sheron? #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/URKeY54wkf
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) January 27, 2018
Australian pacer Marcus Stoinis is next.
RTM is available with Kings XI Punjab.
Stuart Binny sold at his base price, that is 50 lakhs to Rajasthan Royals.
Next up is Colin Munro.
Welcome aboard, Colin Munro! ???? pic.twitter.com/LTkEwWbfAc
— Delhi Daredevils (@DelhiDaredevils) January 27, 2018
Yusuf Pathan joins Orange Army.
Yusuf Pathan is sold to Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs. 1.90 Cr.
RTM is available with KKR for Yusuf Pathan.
Next up is Australian all-rounder James Faulkner but as there is no bid hence, remains unsold.
Kedar Jadhav is sold to Chennai Super Kings for Rs. 7.80 Cr, and Colin de Grandhomme to RCB for Rs. 2.20 Cr.
Next up is Kedar Jadhav.
Welcome to the team @chriswoakes
— Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) January 27, 2018
A supreme outswinger and quick runs down the order is what we'll get with English all-rounder! #PlayBold pic.twitter.com/v2BB52Wiba
Carlos Brathwaite is sold to Hyderabad for Rs 2.0 Cr.
Chris Woakes is purchased by RCB for Rs. 7.4 Cr.
Shane Watson is sold to Chennai Super Kings for Rs 4.0 Cr.
VIVO #IPLAuction - Purse remaining pic.twitter.com/yagzZ4CfUT
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Top buys so far.
VIVO #IPLAuction - Top Buys so far... pic.twitter.com/C9JH4ew0KE
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
That concludes set no. 3
Manish Pandey is sold to Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 11.0 Cr
Martin Guptill remains UNSOLD
Right to Match is available to Kolkata Knight Riders for Manish Pandey.
Next bid is for Manish Pandey.
Shocking!!!
Hashim Amla remains unsold.
RCB jumped between Delhi and Kolkata but Daniel Vettori gave up at Rs 9.0 Cr.
So, finally, Chris Lynn is sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs. 9.6 Cr.
Delhi and Kolkata are biding for Chris Lynn.
(Current bid Rs 8.0 Cr.)
Lynn-sanity is here to stay! ????#Knight, @lynny50 will continue to entertain the #KnightRiders in @IPL 2018. ????#KnightsOf2018 #KorboLorboJeetbo #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/1ONWFondHP
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) January 27, 2018
Jason Roy is sold to Delhi on base price Rs 1.5 Cr.
No bid for Jason Roy.
The bid is going on for Brendon McCullum.
Delhi jumps in between and goes against RCB to purchase star batsman McCullum.
Aaron Finch sold to Kings XI Punjab for Rs 6.2 Cr
Quite a bid!!!
Punjab has used its first RTM for David Miller.
What is RTM (Right to match)?
The teams have already announced the names of the players they wanted to retain (maximum three players per team) ahead of the auction and while majority of the players are part of the auction, the teams can still retain the core by using the Right to Match (RTM) card(s) during the auction.
Mumbai Indians made the highest bid for Miller but he is retained by Kings XI Punjab for Rs 3.0 Cr.
Next up
Player no. 22 from South Africa which is David Miller.
As Murli Vijay remains unsold.
Next up is Murli Vijay.
KL Rahul sold to Kings XI Punjab for Rs 11 Cr.
Karun Nair sold to Kings XI Punjab for Rs 5.60n Cr.
Karun Nair up next (Base price Rs 50 lakhs)
The bid is on between Rajasthan and Punjab.
Capped batsmen up next
Seems like, Rajasthan Royals has created another Rising Pune Super Giants.
Ben Stokes is the most expensive purchase till now (Rs 12.5)
Till now Chennai Super Kings has done really well.
Joe Root remains unsold!!!
Yuvraj Singh sold to Kings XI Punjab.
Not retained by SRH.
VIVO #IPLAuction - @lionsdenkxip gets #TeamIndia legend @YUVSTRONG12 for INR 2 Cr #KXIP pic.twitter.com/xWA2SG7ypv
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Kane Williamson is sold to Sunrises Hyderabad for 3.0 Cr.
VIVO #IPLAuction - @SunRisers get @BLACKCAPS skipper Kane Williamson for INR 3 Cr #SRH pic.twitter.com/z0WClkSQNG
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Chennai is spending well!!!
Retained DJ Bravo for Rs 6.40 Cr.
Gautam Gambhir purchased by Delhi Daredevil, not "retained" by KKR
VIVO #IPLAuction - @DelhiDaredevils get two-time #IPL winner @GautamGambhir for INR 2.8 Cr #CSK GG 2.8 Cr #DD pic.twitter.com/7FsDxzra4A
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Gautam Gambhir is selling
Maxi sold to Delhi Daredevils for Rs 9.0 Cr.
VIVO #IPLAuction - @DelhiDaredevils get @Gmaxi_32 for INR 9 Cr #DD pic.twitter.com/au4sVZ9sGX
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Glenn Maxwell is earning huge...
850...880...
The bid is on!!!
Shakib Al Hasan sold to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
VIVO #IPLAuction - @SunRisers gets @BCBtigers' @Sah75official for INR 2 Cr #SRH pic.twitter.com/cbsoWq4kJT
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
No place for Bhajji in Mumbai!!!
That's sad.
Harbhajan Singh sold to Chennai Super Kings for Rs 2.0 Cr.
What is RTM (Right to match)?
The teams have already announced the names of the players they wanted to retain (maximum three players per team) ahead of the auction and while majority of the players are part of the auction, the teams can still retain the core by using the Right to Match (RTM) card(s) during the auction.
Mitchell Starc sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 940 lakhs.
For sure a big blow to RCB.
VIVO #IPLAuction: @KKRiders gets @mstarc56 for INR 9.40 Cr #KKR pic.twitter.com/eyDNpou8Xe
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Ajinkya Rahane retained by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 4 Cr.
Back to the camp, champ!!!
VIVO #IPLAuction: @rajasthanroyals uses RTM to retain @ajinkyarahane88 for INR 4 Cr #RR pic.twitter.com/DaiQuiSykb
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
Chennai is not letting go their old players as they have used RTM to retain Faffy for Rs 1.60 Crores.
Faf Du Plessis will play for Chennai Super Kings.
VIVO #IPLAuction: @rajasthanroyals gets @benstokes38 for INR 12.50 Cr #RR pic.twitter.com/xVvgJLJ15V
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
It's time for Big Ben
One the most favourite, Ben Stokes.
1 2 3...And sold to Rajasthan Royals for 12.5 Crores.
Next up, the run machine, Chris Gayle.
Remains unsold!!!
The third player to go under the hammer is Kieron Pollard.
Mumbai Indians uses RTM to get Kieron Pollard.
Ashwin is sold to Kings XI Punjab for INR 760 lakhs.
VIVO #IPLAuction - @lionsdenkxip gets #TeamIndia's @ashwinravi99 for INR 7.60 Cr #KXIP pic.twitter.com/S6fCjc1DoR
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) January 27, 2018
First player sold!!!
Sunrisers Hyderabad uses RTM to get Shikhar Dhawan for INR 520 lakhs.
READ: All eyes on marquee players
There are 16 players awarded marquee status and those are: Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Benjamin Stokes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan, Christopher Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Ajinkya Rahane, Dwayne Bravo, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Kane Williamson, Faf Du Plessis, Joe Root, Shakib Al Hasan and Yuvraj Singh.
READ: Complete players' list and their base price
After the IPL retention process, the franchises now have a trimmed purse. Rajasthan Royals (67.5 cr), Kings XI Punjab (67.5 cr), Sunrisers Hyderabad (59 cr), Kolkata Knight Riders (59 cr), Chennai Super Kings (47 cr), Delhi Daredevils (47 cr), Royal Challengers Bangalore (49 cr), Mumbai Indians (47 cr).
Richard Madley, the man who has hosted auctions for 11 straight years, has taken over the proceedings. He informs that 581 players will be up for grabs in the next two days.
IPL commissioner Rajiv Shukla gives a speech welcoming all the franchise owners and the stakeholders.
The IPL 2018 auction is taking place in Bengaluru today where a total of 578 players will go under the hammer.
A fierce bidding war is expected as Indian stars Gautam Gambhir, off-spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, mystery spinner Kuldeep Yadav and openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay will be on the franchises’ radar.
The list also includes the overseas players, including Glenn Maxwell, Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, Rashid Khan and Eoin Morgan.
In the 10th season, Mumbai Indians led by Rohit Sharma defeated Pune to lift the IPL trophy for the third time.
The 11th season of the much-awaited Indian Premier League will begin on 6th April 2018.