English all-rounder Ben Stokes, who became IPL’s most expensive overseas player last year, was bought by Rajasthan Royals for ₹12.5 crore. IPL has granted the option to replace Stokes if he misses the tournament over his involvement in legal proceedings.
Royals used their Right to Match option to buy Ajinkya Rahane after Kings XI Punjab bought him for ₹4 crore.Australian pacer Mitchell Starc went from his base price of ₹2 crore to ₹9.4 crore within minutes to be bought by Kolkata Knight Riders.
Former Royal Challengers Bangalore player Chris Gayle went unsold in the first round. The Windies batsman, who has scored IPL’s highest ever individual score, had a base price of ₹2 crore.
Kolkata Knight Riders did not exercise the Right to Match option for their captain Gautam Gambhir after Delhi Daredevils bought him for ₹2.8 crore in the IPL auction on Saturday.
Gambhir had earlier represented Delhi Daredevils from 2008 to 2010 before playing for Knight Riders from 2011-2017. “I AM BACK @DelhiDaredevils @IPL,” Gambhir later tweeted.
