Ben Stokes, Tymal Mills go for over Rs 10 crore, Ishant unsold

Catch live updates of the 2017 IPL Auction here. Ben Stokes became the highest paid international cricketer as he was snapped up by Rising Pune Supergiants for a record sum of Rs 14.5 crores while Tymal Mills went to Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 12 crore. Ishant Sharma goes unsold Follow live updates here...

A warm welcome to the 2017 IPL Auction. It is that time of the year when players are traded and teams look for a fresh composition ahead of the 2017 IPL. This is the final auction before the 2018 IPL, when all the teams and players go into the auction pool.

 Heading into the IPL Auction, Kings XI-Punjab (Rs 23.31 cr) and Delhi Daredevils (Rs 23.1 cr) have the maximum purse while Mumbai Indians (Rs 11.5 cr) have the least purse.

 There has been some interesting news leading into the build-up of the 2017 IPL-Auction. MS-Dhoni has been axed as captain of Rising Pune Supergiants while Mitchell Starc has ended his association with Royal Challengers Bangalore. 

Looking at the composition of the teams prior to the auction, Kolkata Knight Riders are the team that might go on a big shopping spree today. They need both local and foreign players.

This IPL-Auction could be a low key affair. But, according to reports, there will be one notable absence. That will be the absence of the Right to Match (RTM).

In the current line-up, KKR are still showing Andre Russell to be retained. Strange! The West Indies all-rounder has been banned for one year for violating the WADA whereabouts clause. However, the appeal is still pending.

We are only 15 minutes away from the auction. What will be the strategy of the teams? Which teams will buy aggressively?

 The Committee of Administrators have come. Mahela Jayawardene sports a big smile as he enters the room. We are minutes away from the auction.

The administrators are in attendance. All the teams are present. Ready, set go for the auction.

 Rahul Johri, the BCCICEO, is giving the opening address. The IPLAuction is now open.

The history of the IPLis being showed. Right from the first auction till the first match and the journey of the tournament.

Martin Guptill is the first player in the auction. His base price is Rs 50 lakhs. He goes unsold.

 Eoin Morgan is the next player in the auction. He is in the high-end of the bracket with Rs 2 crore. KXIP have started the bid with Rs 200 lakhs

Eoin Morgan is sold to Kings XIPunjab for Rs 2 crore. On his base price.

Jason Roy goes unsold.

Faiz Fazal is up next. His base price is Rs 30 lakhs. He goes unsold. as well.

Alex Hales is the next player in the acution. His base price is Rs 1 crore. He goes unsold as well. Ross Taylor is the next player. He is also unsold.

Saurabh Tiwary is the next player in the auction. So far, the bidding has been very cautious. He also goes unsold

 The next batch is up for grabs. Pawan Negi, the top Indian pick of the 2016 Auction at Rs 8.5 crore is up. Rising Pune Supergiants have opened up the bid.

Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions are opening up the bid. His price has gone up to over 50 lakhs. RPS is out. Royal Challengers Bangalore have jumped into the fray. Sunrisers Hyderabad have also jumped into the fray. His price has gone past Rs 1 crore.

Pawan Negi sold to RCB for Rs 1 crore.

Very late bid for Angelo Mathews by Delhi Daredevils. He is sold to Delhi Daredevils for his base price of Rs 2 crore.

Irfan Pathan is the next player. His base price is Rs 50 lakhs and he goes unsold.

Ben Stokes is the next player in the Rs 2 crore bracket. Mumbai Indians have bid for him. MI and RCB are bidding for him. His price has gone past 4 crores. He has gone past 5 crores

Delhi Daredevils have jumped in. Stokes’ price has touched 8 crore. It has touched 9 crores. He has touched 10 crores.

Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab, along with Sunrisers Hyderabad are in the fray now. Stokes has touched 13 crores. Now, Rising Pune Supergiants have bid and it has touched Rs 13.5 crores. Incredible.

Can Stokes break the record? Sunrisers Hyderabad are out of the fray.

 Ben Stokes goes to RPS for Rs 14.5 crore. He becomes the highest international player in the IPL, surpassing Shane Watson’s mark of Rs 9.5 crore. Corey Anderson goes to Delhi Daredevils for Rs 1 crore, his base price.

Sean Abbott goes unsold. Chris Jordan is next with a base price of Rs 50 lakh. He goes unsold.

The big highlight of the session. Ben Stokes going for a record sum of Rs 14.5 crore, the most expensive international player ever.

Session highlights so far. Ben Stokes steals the show with record Rs 14.5 crore, Angelo Mathews and Eoin Morgan snapped up for their base price. Pawan Negi the highest Indian with Rs 1 crore.

Rising Pune Supergiants only have Rs 3 crore balance. Time for the other teams to cash in.

Stephen Fleming says, “There is an element of risk when spend big-time money, but we are ready to take that risk. We look strong on paper. It’s the top 8 that you really have to respect. You have got three captains so you have leadership. We have bowlers, allrounders in Mitch Marsh and Stokes.”

The wicketkeepers are up next for the auction. Ben Dunk is the first player in this set. His base price is Rs 30 lakhs. He is unsold.

 Jonny Bairstow is up next. His base price is Rs 1.5 crores. He goes unsold. The auctioneer with a cheeky response, “he is no longer friends with Ben Stokes.” Andre Fletcher, West Indies wicketkeeper, goes unsold.

 Nicholas Pooran, the West Indies wicketkeeper, is up next. Mumbai Indians have bid for him. He is sold to Mumbai Indians for his base price of Rs 30 lakhs.

Johnson Charles goes unsold. Dinesh Chandimal is up next. He also goes unsold.

 The fast bowlers are up next. Nathan Coulter-Nile is the first player in this set. He played for Delhi Daredevils in the 2016 edition. He is unsold.

Kagiso Rabada is up next. His base price is Rs 1 crore. Kings XI Punjab have opened the bid. Delhi Daredevils jump into the fray.

 His price has gone past Rs 5 crores. He is sold to Delhi Daredevils for Rs 5 crore.

Trent Boult is up next. Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are bidding for him. He has gone past 5 crores.

Trent Boult sold to KKR for Rs 5 crore.

Tymal Mills is the next bowler and Mumbai Indians open the bid for Rs 5o lakhs. KXIP and MI are bidding and his price has gone past 2.5 crore.

RCB have jumped in. His base price is touching Rs 8 crore.

Another 10 crore player in this auction. This time is Tymal Mills. He is sold to RCB for Rs 12 crore.

Pat Cummins is on Rs 2 crore. SRH have bid for him and it is has crossed 4 crores.

Pat Cummins snapped up by Delhi Daredevils for Rs 4.5 crore.

Mitchell Johnson sold to Mumbai Indians for his base price of Rs 2 crore. He played for them in the 2013 edition.

 Kyle Abbott is up next. He is now a Kolpak player. He goes unsold. His base price was Rs 1.5 crore. Unsold

Ishant Sharma goes unsold. That is a big surprise.

Spinners are up next and Ish Sodhi, the New Zealand legspinner is the first player. He goes unsold. Hold on, the auctioneer got the number and player wrong. It stands cancelled.

The first player in the lot is Lakshan Sandakan, the Sri Lankan left arm Chinaman. He goes unsold. Ish Sodhi is up next. He is again unsold. This time it stands.

Brad Hogg, the 46-year-young legspinner is in. His base price is Rs 50 lakhs. He goes unsold.

Pragyan Ojha is up next. He goes unsold. His base price was Rs 50 lakhs.

Imran Tahir, the No.1 spinner in T20Is and ODis, goes unsold! That is a shock.

Delhi Daredevils have completed their quota of foreign players. They can only bid for Indian players. Meanwhile, have a look at the Ben Stokes miracle in the 2017 IPL Auction.

Some “jokes” going on about Ben Stokes’ price

The 2017 IPL Auction will witness over 350 players go under the hammer. The likes of Ben Stokes, Ishant Sharma, Irfan Pathan are all expected to garner big money. With a maximum of 27 players allowed in every squad with nine overseas players, the eight franchises will be weighing their options.

Kings XI Punjab have the highest auction purse with Rs 23.1 crore, followed by Royal Challengers Bangalore with Rs 22.8 crore. RCB have been dealt a big blow with Mitchell Starc not featuring in this IPL. Mumbai Indians have the least purse with 11.5 crores but they have the most number of players with 20. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders have the least number of players in the squad with 14 and they will be eyeing a big chunk of players in the auction.

Amongst the Indian players, the likes of Ishank Jaggi, who starred in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Prithvi Shaw are the big drawcards. Amongst the lesser known players, the likes of Mohammad Shehzad and Mohammad Nabi will also be the big attractions. Will the franchises be interested in them? Which Indian uncapped player will set the stage alight? All answers will be known on Monday.