Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) marquee combinations will be split into two for the next two editions of the cash rich Indian Premier league (IPl). Pune and Rajkot divvied up
MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the draft auction at the NCA Grounds in Mumbai on Tuesday. India’s limited over captain Dhoni was touted to be the top billing before the IPl draft auction and that was proven true.
Pune had the first chance in the auction and it was no surprise that they opted for Dhoni at the stipulated price of Rs12.50 crore. On their first go, Rajkot brought in CSK deputy Raina for the same figure.
Players from CSK and Rajasthan Royals (RR) were up for grabs after the two teams were suspended for their role in IPl spot-fixing and betting scandal and barred from the tournament as per the recommendations of the Justice lodha Committee.
In the auction, seven players from CSK, including Dhoni and Raina, and three from RR were taken by the two teams replacing them for IPl-9 and IPl-10. The two companies New Rising and Intex Mobiles had bid the lowest last week in a reverse bidding process and had picked Pune and Rajkot as their bases.
India’s in-form middle order batsman Ajinkya Rahane was the second choice for Pune while Rajkot opted for all-rounder Jadeja on their next pick. Both players were taken for Rs9.5 crore per year.
Off-spinner Ashwin was picked by Pune as their third choice and will get a purse of Rs7.5 crore. New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was Rajkot’s choice. In the fourth spot, both the teams opted for Australians with Steve Smith (Rs5.5 crore) go to Pune and James Faulkner (Rs5.5 crore) going to Rajkot.
Pune opted for South African batsman Faf du Plessis as their fifth and final player, while West Indian Dwayne Bravo was Rajkot’s pick. Both players will get Rs 4 crore.
Only players from these two teams were up for grabs and the ones not taken will now be put into the pool of general auction on February 6. The complete pool consisted of 50 players from both sides - Rahane, Faulkner and Smith represented Royals last season while the rest came from Chennai.
“Both the teams (who have each spent Rs 39 crore on Tuesday) are now left with Rs 27 crore each from the total purse to form the rest of the team,” said IPl chairman Rajeev Shukla.
Next edition of the IPl begins on April 9 in Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium with the Final also scheduled at the same venue for May 29.