Daredevils buy Yuvraj for $2.67 million

For the second successive year, Yuvraj Singh attracted a record bid in the IPL auction, this time from Delhi Daredevils who purchased the allrounder for Rs 16 crore (approx. $2.67 million).

There were two other million-dollar purchases on the morning of the auction. Daredevils made another high-profile purchase, signing Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews for Rs 7.5 crore (approx. $1.25 million), while India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik - who had attracted a bid of Rs 12.5 crore ($2.08 million) last year - was signed by Royal Challengers for Rs 10.5 crore (approx. $1.75 million).

South Africa Test captain Hashim Amla, along with Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene were unsold in the marquee round of the auction.

Daredevils had came into the auction with the deepest pockets and the franchise was involved in a bidding contest for Yuvraj with the allrounder's erstwhile franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore. Last year, Royal Challengers had paid Rs. 14 crore (approx. $2.33million) for Yuvraj but had released him before the auction.

Sunrisers Hyderabad had the largest purse in the auction after Daredevils and added a few high-profile names to their roster. They purchased Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara - the three England players who were sold in the first half of the auction. While Pietersen was sold for his base price of Rs 2 crore ($330,000), Morgan was bought for Rs 1.5 crore ($250,000), and Bopara had a bid of Rs 1 crore ($166,000). Sunrisers also purchased New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson for Rs 60 lakh ($100,000) and quick bowler Trent Boult for Rs 3.8 crore ($633,000). New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne was bought by Royal Challengers for Rs 70 lakh ($166,000).

Zaheer Khan, who hasn't played since IPL 2014, was sold in the second round for Rs 4 crore ($660,000) to Daredevils, the fourth-costliest buy on the auction day. Irfan Pathan, who played for Sunrisers last season, did not attract a bid in the first round but was bought by Chennai Super Kings in the second round for his base price of Rs. 1.5 crore ($250,000). Praveen Kumar, who played for Mumbai Indians last season, was bought by Sunrisers for Rs 2.2 crore ($366,000) but Baroda pacer Munaf Patel went unsold.

Among the uncapped players, Mumbai batsman Shreyas Iyer and Kishan Cariappa attracted the highest bids. Cariappa, a 20-year-old spinner who is yet to play a single first-class game, was purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 2.4 crore ($400,000), while Shreyas Iyer was bought by Daredevils for Rs 2.6 crores ($433,000).

Australia pacer Sean Abbott was purchased by Royal Challengers for Rs 1 crore ($166,000) and the franchise also added West Indies T20 captain Darren Sammy to their ranks, for Rs 2.8 crore ($466,000). Aaron Finch was the most expensive Australia player, purchased by Mumbai Indians for Rs 3.2 crore ($533,000). Medium-pacer Gurinder Sandhu, who made his debut in the tri-series against India and England last month, was bought by Daredevils for Rs 1.7 crore ($283,000).

There will be two-week trading window starting next Monday, where those players who were already with their franchises before the auction can be exchanged.