IPL Auctions: Pollard and Bond were sold for maximum price


The auction for the 3rd edition of the IPL began with a bash but ended with a whimper. As it progressed, it became clear that the franchisees had come out with precise plans and strategies for what loopholes they needed to plug.

There was none of the excitement neither of the inaugural auction, when every player was up for grabs, nor of the auction 2009, where Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and Mashrafe Mortaza created headlines.

At this auction, there was only one universal choice - the flamboyant Kieron Pollard, who was bid for by nearly all team. Some of the pace bowlers saw fiercely contested bids, with Shane Bond's bid going the distance, while Kemar Roach and Wayne Parnell were sold for heavy sums. Pollard finally went to the Mumbai Indians after four teams. Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai - were all fixed on the maximum bid of USD 750,000. Mumbai Indians got him via the silent bid method.

The main talking point was the complete lack of interest in the Pakistani players, with none of them getting a single bid. The Pakistan players had come into the auction with fine rare breed and several franchisees could have been predictable to be interested in the likes of Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal and Mohammad Aamer.

The Auction Details:

Chennai Super Kings:
  • Thissara Perera (USD 50,000)
  • Justin Kemp (USD 100,000)
Deccan Chargers:
  • Kemar Roach (USD 720,000)
  • Harmeet Singh (U-19, INR 800,000)
Delhi Daredevils:
  • Wayne Parnell (USD 610,000)
Kings XI Punjab:
  • Mohammad Kaif (USD 250,000)
  • Yusuf Abdulla (USD 50,000)
Kolkata Knight Riders:
  • Shane Bond (USD 750,000)
Mumbai Indians:
  • Kieron Pollard (USD 750,000)
  • Harshal Patel (U-19, INR 800,000)
Rajasthan Royals:
  • Damien Martyn (USD 100,000)
  • Adam Voges (USD 50,000)
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
  • Eoin Morgan (USD 220,000)
  • Ashok Meenaria (U-19, INR 800,000)

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