IPL 4 auction: Gambhir fetches record price of $2.4 million

BANGALORE: Opener Gautam Gambhir onSaturday became the costliest cricketer in the IPL by fetching a whopping $2.4million (approx Rs 11.04 crore) on the first day of the auctions where Indianplayers proved to be the biggest draw with three others going for more than $2million. Who gotwhom | TeamComposition | Players togo under hammer In a high-profile auction, where Bollywood starsand corporate bigwigs were locked in a bidding war, Kolkata Knight Riders boughtGambhir for the mind- boggling sum, beating the previous high set by the Englishduo of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff ($1.55 million) lastseason. Shah Rukh Khan was not present in person but his KolkataKnight Riders, which had been reduced to an also-ran in the last two seasons,proved to be the big spender of the day by also buying hard-hitting all- roundersYusuf Pathan (Rs 9.66 crore) and Jacques Kallis (Rs 5.06 crore) for the fourthedition of event to be held from April 8 to May 20. Gambhir, who wascaptain of the Delhi Daredevils last season, saw his price skyrocket 12 timesfrom his base price of $200,000 (Rs 92 lakh) while three other Indian players --Yusuf ($2.1 million), Rohit Sharma ($2 million) and Robin Uthappa (2.1 million)crossed the two million mark. Yusuf's younger brother Irfan, who hasnot played any cricket this season, was taken by Delhi Daredevils for asurprisingly high amount of $1.9 (Rs 8.74 crore) million. But therewere some surprise names in the unsold list with former India and KKR captainSourav Ganguly, West Indies batting star Chris Gayle and the legendary BrianLara failing to find a buyer. There is still a slim chance of theseplayers finding a team after their names come up again in the second round ofbidding. The bidding trend at the auction at times appeared to defylogic but what was certain was that the franchises were willing to spend bigmoney on the Indian players. Mahela Jayawardene was the most expensive foreignplayer going to Kochi at $1.5 million (Rs 6.90 crore). Cricket aside,Bollywood stars Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty provided the glamour quotientwhile liquor baron Vijay Mallya, his son Siddharth, Nita Ambani and Nusli Wadiaadded the corporate aura at the auction. Cricketing brains such asAnil Kumble, Stephen Fleming, Geoff Lawson and Darren Lehmann, who have beenroped in either as coaches or mentors by the franchises, helped them work outthe bidding strategies. As expected, big money was spent but the wayit was spent on some players was baffling. Robin Uthappa, who has been out ofnational reckoning for quite some time, was bought for an astounding $2.1million (Rs 9.66 crore) by Sahara Pune Warriors who opened their account bybuying Yuvraj Singh for $1.8 million (Rs 8.28 crore approx). Pune gotYuvraj, the icon player of Kings XI Punjab till last season, after beating TeamKochi and the batsman's former team in the bid. Even Rohit Sharma'sprice of $2 million (Rs 9.2 crore), which Mumbai Indians paid, came as asurprise in an auction where proven T20 specialists such as Jesse Ryder,Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher and Graeme Swann went unsold. Therewas intense bidding for Gambhir, who was the first player under the hammer, fromPune and Mumbai before KKR joined the fray after it crossed the million dollarmark. Kings XI Punjab also lost the bid of Sri Lankan MahelaJayawardene who was bought by Kochi for $1.5 million. The RoyalChallengers Bangalore bought Zaheer Khan for $900,000 and dashing Lankan openerTillakaratne Dilshan for $650,000. However, the Vijay Mallya- ownedfranchise had a prize catch in talented South African AB de Villiers, buying himfor $1.1 million (Rs 5.06 crore). They also got New Zealand captain DanielVettori for only $550,000. The Rajasthan Royals bought New Zealandbatsman Ross Taylor for $1 million (Rs 4.6 crore). But what turned out to be asurprise was South African off-spinner Johan Botha being bought after a lot ofbidding for $950,000. However, Kevin Pietersen, who was one of themost sought after players in the second and third edition, was bought by DeccanChargers for $650,000 much less than his million dollar price in the earlieryears. Andrew Symonds, who was one of the costliest players duringseason one, was bought for $850,000 by Mumbai Indians. After thefirst two rounds, Team Kochi had bought the maximum five players (MahelaJayawardene, Brendon McCullum, VVS Laxman, S Sreesanth and Rudra PratapSingh). Kochi were quite lucky to buy McCullum for as low a price as $475,000 considering his reputation as a T20 dasher. Sahara PuneWarriors were also a gainer as they got South African captain Graeme Smith for $500,000 only. Kings XI Punjab who lost all their key playersincluding the Lankan duo of Kumar Sangakkara (bought by Deccan Chargers for $650,000) and Jayawardene ($1.5 million for Kochi) and Yuvraj to Pune finallyhad something to cheer when they successfully bid for former Australianwicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist for $900,000. After the lunch break,there were some more surprises with the young Saurabh Tiwary bought by RoyalChallengers Bangalore for $1.6 million (Rs 7.36 crore). Punjab also spent $1.4million (approx Rs 6.34 crore) on Australian David Hussey. SouthAfrican speedster Dale Steyn, who made life difficult for Indian batsmen duringthe recent drawn Test series, was bought by Deccan Chargers for $1.2 million (Rs5.5 crore). Australia's injury-plagued speedster Brett Lee went forhis base price of $400,000 to Kolkata after failing to invite a bid for quite awhile in the auction. South Africans were hot picks at the auctionwith Steyn's pace partner Morne Morkel going to Delhi at$475,000. The run-up to the auction was marred by legal wranglingbetween the BCCI and two franchise -- Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab --both of whom were initially booted out of the event over ownership issues beforecoming back through court orders.

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ICC Dream Team

Pakistan’s feared left arm fast bowler Wasim Akram was picked among the all-time One-Day International (ODIs) dream team announced by International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday. Australia, India, West Indies, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan represented as 40th anniversary of ODI cricket is marked. To coincide with the 40th anniversary of the first One-Day International, cricket fans around the world have cast their votes on the ICC website for what they consider to be the all-time ODI team. In total, fans from 97 countries cast almost 600,000 votes on www.icc-cricket.com between December 22 and January 2 to make their views known as to who have been the best ODI players of the past 40 years in the key categories of opening batsmen, middle-order batsmen, wicketkeeper, spin bowlers and fast bowlers. Three players from Australia and India, two from the West Indies and one each from South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have made the final dream 11 with another Aussie named as 12th man while the momentous “438” game between South Africa and Australia in Johannesburg in 2006 has been voted the best ODI yet. The All-Time ODI Dream Team (as voted for by visitors is: Opening batsmen: Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag (both India) Middle order: Brian Lara, Viv Richards (both West Indies) and Ricky Ponting (Austrlia), All-rounder: Kapil Dev (India) Wicketkeeper: Adam Gilchrist (Austrlia), Spinner: Muttiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka) Fast bowlers: Wasim Akram (Pakistan), Glenn McGrath (Australia) and Allan Donald (South Africa). 12th man: Michael Bevan (Australia), the player who received the most number of votes without being enough to make the would-be starting 11). Supporters had the chance to select the dream team from a shortlist of 48 players in different categories and they could pick their favourite game from a choice of 10 memorable matches. The match they chose was a run- feast in Johannesburg ’s famous Wanderers Stadium in March 2006. Batting first, Australia made a record 434-4 in 50 overs with captain Ricky Ponting setting the day alight with 164 off just 105 balls. The mood of the capacity crowd did not improve when South Africa lost a wicket with just three runs on the board. But then an innings of magic from Herschelle Gibbs (175 off 111) backed up by cameos by Graeme Smith (90 off 55), Mark Boucher (50 not out) and Johan van der Wath (35) saw the Proteas to a scarcely possible winning score of 438 with nine wickets down and one ball remaining. It was a wonderful occasion and truly an ODI never to be forgotten. The first ever ODI was played between Australia and England on January 5, 1971 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Cricket Australia will also mark the 40th anniversary of ODI cricket with a number of events, including a reception with members of Australia ’s first ODI team at Victoria’s Government House, during Melbourne’s Cricket weekend which also includes a Twenty20 International from January 14-16. The Australian ODI team from 1971 will also be presented to the crowd during the innings break of the first ODI match of the series between Australia and England at the MCG on Sunday 16 January. The 40th anniversary of the ODI is being marked in the build-up to cricket ’s flagship event, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, which begins in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 19 February. As with all nine previous editions of the tournament, fans around the globe will no doubt be treated to amazing feats of individual and team brilliance that will live long in the memory

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3 Indians in ICC 'dream team' of ODI greats

Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag won a massive endorsement from fans on Wednesday when they were effectively declared the finest one-day international (ODI) opening pair ever. On a day when the 50-over game celebrated its 40th anniversary, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the results ofits online poll - in which 600,000 fans from 97 countries took part - conducted to select an all time 'dream ODI team'. Only one other Indian found a place in this dream XI - all rounder Kapil Dev who led India to its sole ODI World Cup victory in 1983. Like India, Australia too have three members in the dream team: Ricky Ponting as middle order batsman, Adam Gilchrist as wicket keeper and Glenn McGrath as one of the pacers. The West Indies have two: Viv Richards and Brian Lara, both in the middle order. South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have Alan Donald (pacer), Muthiah Muralitharan (spinner) and Wasim Akram (pacer) respectively. No one from England or New Zealand made it to the dream team. Fans have also picked the best game in one-day history: the sensational South African victory over Australia in Johannesburg in 2006. Batting first, Australia amassed a record 434-4, but South Africa were able to overhaul even this mammoth total. The team: Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Viv Richards, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Kapil Dev, Adam Gilchrist, Alan Donald, Wasim Akram, Glenn McGrath, Muthiah Muralitharan.

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