Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Symonds is the newest millionaire

Andrew Symonds became the second-most expensive player in the IPL, as Hyderabad bought him for US$1.35m (his base price being $2,50,000). The others picked in the third round of the bidding include: Brett Lee bought by Mohali for US$9,00,000 (base price: $3,00,000), Brendon McCullum bought by Kolkata for $7,00,000 (base price: $1,75,000), Jacob Oram bought by Chennai for $6,75,000 (base price: $2,00,000), Daniel Vettori bought by Delhi for $6,25,000 (base price: $2,50,000).

Ricky Ponting and Mathew Hayden didn’t draw too much of money, their tour to Pakistan could have had something to do with it. Ponting waw bought by Kolkata for $4,00,000 and Hayden by Chennai for $3,75,000.

Like McGrath and Yousuf, Mike Hussey didn’t find any takers, and will be sent into the reserve pool.

There are four men who have broken the million barrier by now: Dhoni, Symonds (both by the virtue of bid), Yuvraj and Tendulkar (both by the virtue of being the icon player, and getting 15 per cent more than the next best)

Squads as of now:

Jaipur Shane Warne (US$ 450,000)

Chennai MS Dhoni (US$ 1.5 million), Muttiah Muralitharan (US$ 600,00), Matthew Hayden (US$ 375,000), Jacob Oram (US$ 675,000)

Mumbai Sachin Tendulkar (icon), Sanath Jayasuriya (US$ 975,000), Harbhajan Singh (US$ 850,000)

Bangalore Rahul Dravid (icon), Anil Kumble (US$ 500,000)

Hyderabad Adam Gilchrist (US$ 700,000), Andrew Symonds (US$ 1.35 million)

Mohali Yuvraj Singh (icon), Mahela Jayawardene (US$ 475,000), Kumar Sangakkara (US$ 700,000), Brett Lee (US$ 900,000)

Kolkata Sourav Ganguly (icon), Shoaib Akhtar (US$ 425,000), Ricky Ponting (US$ 400,000), Brendon McCullum (US$ 700,000)

Delhi Virender Sehwag (icon), Daniel Vettori (US$ 625,000)