NEW DELHI _ Young India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was sold for $US2 million at the Indian Premier League auction in Bangalore yesterday, but a host of big-name stars missed out.
Reigning IPL champions Chennai Super Kings, owned by Indian cricket chief Narayanaswamy Srinivasan, bagged the 23-year-old Jadeja after an intense bidding war with Deccan Chargers.
Jadeja joins India colleagues Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma in the $US2-million-a-year bracket in the money-spinning Twenty20 league.
Just 17 of the 144 foreign and Indian players who had thrown their hat in the ring found favour with the franchises in the morning session of the auction, which was restricted to players not already aligned to any team.
Among the chief gainers were Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, bought by Delhi Daredevils for $US1.4 million, and Indian seamer Vinay Kumar, who fetched $US1 million from Royal Challengers Bangalore.
New Zealand wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum went to Kolkata Knight Riders for $US900,000, while 41-year-old Australian spinner Brad Hogg was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for $US180,000.
The franchises spent money to strengthen their line-ups ahead of the fifth edition of the IPL which will be played between April 4 and May 27.
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