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Ishan Kishan and Deepak Chahar laughed their way to the bank on the opening day of the TATA Indian Premier League Player Auction 2022, at the ITC Gardenia, in Bengaluru, on Saturday.
Kishan's Rs 15.25 crore winning bid from Mumbai Indians bettered the Rs 14 crore figure that Chennai Super Kings paid to retain Deepak Chahar.
Shreyas Iyer bagged a staggering Rs 12.25 crore deal from Kolkata Knight Riders and all-rounder Shardul Thakur forced Delhi Capitals to break the bank with Rs 10.75 crore for his services.
Young pacer Prasidh Krishna (Rs 10 crore) was paid big by Rajasthan Royals for his timely 'Man of the Series' performance against the West Indies while Washington Sundar, another India regular, also got richer by Rs 8.75 crore.
Nitish Rana, a consistent IPL performer, was retained for Rs 8 crore by his previous franchise Kolkata Knight Riders while uncapped Rahul Tripathi, also crossed the million dollar mark at Rs 8.50 crore.
Shahrukh Khan, another formidable domestic T20 finisher, but one with a base price of a mere Rs 20 lakh, was bought for a massive Rs 9 crore by Punjab Kings.
Spin all-rounder Rahul Tewatia also stole the limelight, lapped up by Gujarat Titans for a ming-boggling Rs 9 crore.
Seniors Shikhar Dhawan (Rs 8.25 crore, Punjab Kings) and Ravichandran Ashwin (Rs 5 crore, Rajasthan Royals) -- also got good deals though Yuzvendra Chahal would be a bit cross as he came late in the day and could only get Rs 6.5 crore from Rajasthan Royals.
Like previous years, none of the franchises got swayed by performances in Big Bash League, the Caribbean Premier League and the Pakistan Super League and concentrated solely on those who can bring value during the IPL.
Thus, Sri Lanka’s spin sensation Wanindu Hasaranga, currently the world's No 1 T20 International bowler, fetched Rs 10.75 crore while West Indian Nicholas Pooran, despite a disastrous IPL the last season, got a similar amount from Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The same reason got England's keeper-batter Jonny Bairstow a Rs 6.75 crore bid from Punjab Kings.
It was a case of supply and demand and at what time of the auction one is placed as teams, save CSK (Dhoni) and Delhi Capitals (Rishabh Pant), didn't have wicketkeepers.
Pooran is an optimistic buy considering he can be destructive on his day.
The discretion was evident when one saw a David Warner going for Rs 6.25 crore.
The auction resumes on Sunday at 12 noon.
All teams can submit a maximum of 20 names from players No 162 to player No 600 for the accelerated auction process on Day 2.