The Indian Premier League is primarily about the Indian players. It's main objective is to unearth and reward Indian talent.
It is they who get the best deals. While the auction ahead of the ninth edition, starting in April, happened on expected lines, there were a few surprises in store.
Pawan Negi struck gold.
Yuvraj Singh again got a great deal while the likes of Mohit Sharma and Ashish Nehra would also be thanking their stars.
Unheralded players like Murugan Ashwin (Rising Pune Supergiants, Rs 4.5 crore), Nathu Singh (Mumbai Indians, Rs 3.2 crore), Krunal Pandya (Mumbai Indians, Rs 2 crore), Rishabh Pant (Delhi Daredevils, Rs 1.9 cr) and KP Kamath (Mumbai Indians, Rs 1.4 crore) secured multi-million deals. Spinner KC Cariappa was snapped up by Kings XI Punjab for Rs 80 lakh.
Among the unfortunate ones was Barinder Sran. Despite his good showing in Australia, the young bowler could only secure a Rs 1.2 crore move - against a base price price of Rs 50 lakh - to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Rediff.com takes a look at the Indian players who secured themselves the best deals.
Pawan Negi
Delhi Daredevils (Rs 8.5 crore)
His base price was just Rs 30 lakh.
In fact, Chennai Super Kings signed him at his base price (Rs 10 lakh) two years back.
Then he got selected for the India team for World T20.
And now Delhi Daredevils have loosened their purse strings considerable to acquire him.
Pawan Negi has fetched, believe it or faint, Rs 8.5 crore.
Yuvraj Singh
Sunrisers Hyderabad (Rs 7 crore)
Yuvraj Singh still commands, and gets, a big price.
First Royal Challengers Bangalore paid Rs 14 crores for his services in 2014. Then Delhi Daredevils spent Rs 16 crore to acquire him in 2015.
He under-performed on both the occasion. Yet, the fact that he is a match winner didn't go unnoticed.
This time it wasn't in double digits. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad did shell out Rs 7 crore to acquire him.
Not a bad deal at all, especially taking into consideration the fact that Yuvraj has not exactly been in great form.
Mohit Sharma
Kings XI Punjab (Rs 6.5 crore)
Now this is a deal that defies logic.
No matter how hard you try, there's no explanation as regards why Kings XI Punjab paid Rs 6.5 crore for Mohit Sharma.
Moreover, owner Preity Zinta later explained he was their first choice.
So let's stop right here.
Ashish Nehra
Sunrisers Hyderabad (Rs 5.5 crore)
The new year has brought good luck for Ashish Nehra.
First he made it back to the Indian T20 squad, for the tour Down Under.
Then he made the cut for the WorldT20.
And now, he has fetched Rs 5.5 crore.
Murugan Ashwin
Rising Pune Supergiants (Rs 4.5 crore)
The uncapped spinner got lucky at the auction.
The Tamil Nadu spinner, who has played all of three first class matches, impressed in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Royal Challengers Bangalore were interested but it was Rising Pune Supergiants which eventually won the bid.
But it did cost the new franchise a lot of money.
Deepak Hooda
Sunrisers Hyderabad (Rs 4.2 crore)
He impressed while playing for Rajasthan Royals.
His base price was just Rs 10 lakh.
Then started a war between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
That swelled Deepak Hooda's value 42 times.
Now the Hyderabad franchise will hope for the best.
Sanju Samson
Delhi Daredevils (Rs 4.2 crore)
Consistent pays, and in the case of Sanju Samson it paid extremely well.
The player was bought for Rs 4.2 crore by Delhi Daredevils.
Let's see if he can justify that price.
Karun Nair
Delhi Daredevils (Rs 4 crore)
The former Rajasthan Royals player simply got lucky.
Starting with a base price of just Rs 10 lakhs, he earned 40 times over, thanks to a bidding war between Delhi and Hyderabad.
A desperate buy by Delhi Daredevils.
Ishant Sharma
Rising Pune Supergiants (Rs 3.8 crore)
Another deal that defies logic.
Ishant Sharma has been a batsman-friendly bowler of late.
There's no tournament in recent memory where he has not been hit all over the park.
So much so that he was axed from the Indian squad for the World T20.
He didn't excel for Sunrisers Hyderabad last season either.
Yet Rising Pune Supergiants fork out Rs 3.8 crore for his services.
Can anyone explain?
Praveen Kumar
Gujarat Lions (Rs 3.5 crore)
Praveen Kumar has for long been out of the national set up.
When it comes to the Indian Premier League though, he has been a steady performer.
However, that doesn't explain why Gujarat Lions paid seven times his base price (Rs 50 lakh).
Nathu Singh
Mumbai Indians (Rs 3.2 crore)
This unheralded player goes to Mumbai Indians.
Against a base price of Rs 10 lakh, he secured a deal worth Rs 3.2 crore.
It was a three-way battle with Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore also fighting it out till the very end.
Dinesh Karthik
Gujarat Lions (Rs 2.3 crore)
Along with Yuvraj, Dinesh Karthik has been profiting from the extravagance of the IPL owners.
Last season he fetched Rs 10.5 crore. The year before it was Rs 12 crore.
Having under-performed in both, this time he could get just Rs 2.3 crore.
A measly amount comparatively, but still a better deal if one takes into account Karthik's current form, rather lack of it.
Stuart Binny
Royal Challengers Bangalore (Rs 2 crore)
He was a consistent performer for Rajasthan Royals last season.
Taking that into account it is not surprising that he has secured himself a good deal.
Stuart Binny will play for Royal Challengers Bangalore this term.
Dhawal Kulkarni
Gujarat Lions (Rs 2 crore)
A decent bowler but a fortunate one nonetheless.
Gujarat Lions probably paid a lot more for him.
At the moment, one can't even say if Dhawal Kulkarni will be a regular feature in their playing XI.
Krunal Pandya
Mumbai Indians (Rs 2 crore)
The Mumbai franchise retained Hardik at his base price (Rs 10 lakh) but paid 20 times over to acquire his brother.
Be prepared for the sibling revelry/rivalry and friendly banter from within the Mumbai camp.
Rishabh Pant
Delhi Daredevils (Rs 1.9 crore)
He is doing well for the Indian under-19 World Cup.
Now he has secured a Rs 1.9 crore deal and will turn out for the Delhi Daredevils this season.
Mumbai and Bangalore were also interested in the promising youngster.
Jaydev Unadkat
Kolkata Knight Riders (Rs 1.6 crore)
Now this guy has got second time lucky.
Three years back, the Royal Challengers Bangalore acquired him for US $525,000 - more than five times his base price (US $100,000).
This year, Kolkata Knight Riders have paid an equivalent amount, considering his base price was just Rs 30 lakhs
