The auction of Indian Premier League (IPL) for 2013 is going on at Chennai where 108 players will come under hammer for playing cricket's most expensive premier league "IPL", scheduled to begin from April 03.
In the 6th edition of the league, nine teams would participate including new "Sunrisers Hyderabad" team for which auction is going on.
In today's auction, Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has become most expensive player who was sold to Mumbai Indians for $1 million while Australian former captain Ricky Ponting, who last year had announced to take retirement from International cricket has been sold to maximum base reserve price at $4,00,000.
Australian current skipper Michael Clark was also sold to Pune Warriors at the same price to Ricky Ponting.
The 24-year-old Victorian Glenn Maxwell was sold for five-times his base price of $200,000, more than Ricky Ponting, who had the highest base price of $400,000.
"Maxwell is a good kid, an exceptional talent and it will be exciting to see him play. It will be nice to have him in the team," said Anil Kumble, mentor of Mumbai Indians.
Commenting on the buy, Nita Ambani, owner of Mumbai Indians, said, "He is an upcoming all-rounder and we had an eye on him."
Maxwell has played nine T20 Internationals scoring 47 runs with a highest of 27 while he has taken five wickets as an off -spinner.
He has also played in eight ODIs scoring 197 runs with a highest of an unbeaten 56.
Maxwell is currently playing in a ODI series against the West Indies at home.
Ponting, who played for Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural season of the IPL, was the first player to go under the hammer.
None of the teams showed interest in him and he was put in the unsold category by auctioneer Richard Madley. But Mumbai Indians made a late bid for the former Australian captain and Madley allowed the bid as none showed interest in the 38-year- old cricketer, who retired from international cricket last year.
The next player to go under the hammer was pacer Rudra Pratap Singh, who was sold to Royal Challengers Bangalore for $400,000, four times his base price. Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad were also interested in the India discard, who was the highest wicket-taker in the second edition in 2009.
The third marquee player South African all-rounder Johan Botha, who went to Rajasthan last year for $950,000, was bought by Delhi Daredevils for $450,000 after an aggressive bidding-match with Pune. Botha had a base price of $300,000.
Clarke, who was the last player in the marquee section, was sold to his old team Pune Warriors for $400,000. The Warriors were the first to bid for the Australian captain and with no other bids they bought him back for much less that what they had spent last season.
--With IANS Inputs--
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