IndiaPost.com - Dhoni hit for six in IPL deal

MUMBAI: India's charismatic one-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has emerged as the hottest property in world cricket after being sold out for a staggering USD 1.5 million dollars (approx Rs 6 crore) in a landmark auction which marked the beginning of a lucrative new era in cricket.

The 26-year-old Dhoni set the tempo for the first ever auction of world's top cricketers when he was acquired by the Chennai franchisee for a three-year period, adding another mind-boggling chapter of monetary gains in the BCCI's multi-million dollar Indian Premier League scheduled to begin in mid-April.

Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who recently made headlines for being at the centre of a racial row involving Harbhajan Singh, proved that the controversy had not dented his brand value as he attracted the second highest price of USD 1.35 million (appro Rs 5.4 crore) with the Hyderabad team securing his services.

Eight franchise owners, including corporate tycoons like Mukesh Ambani and liquor baron Vijay Mallya and Bollywood superstars Shahrukh Khan and Priety Zinta, bid for 77 cricketers in a pioneering process which has the potential to change the face of the game.

Flamboyant Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya, despite being aged 38, was sold out to Ambani-owned Mumbai team for a whopping Rs 3.9 crore, while Australian speedster Brett Lee (Rs 3.6 crore), South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis (Rs 3.6 crore), Harbhajan Singh (Rs 3.4 crore), West Indian opener Chris Gayle (Rs 3.2 crore) and retiring Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist (Rs 2.8 crore) were some of the other big draws.

The high-profile Twenty20 venture, to be held from April 18 to June 1, will be the first time that international cricketers will ditch their national allegiances to play for privately-owned sides, after organizers raised more than a billion dollars to fund the tournament.

The IPL's five 'icon' players -- Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai), Sourav Ganguly (Kolkata), Yuvraj Singh (Mohali), Rahul Dravid (Bangalore) and Virender Sehwag (Delhi) -- were not part of the auction but have been guaranteed 15 percent more than the highest paid player at their franchise.