The IPL Auction 3 has started off on sensational note with Mumbai Indians successfully going for the young talented batting all-rounder Kiaron Pollard for a whopping sum of $7,50,000. His auction generated a lot of frenzied interest among the franchisees. The first round of the auction had some drama in it. The most of stunning facet has been the fact that the swashbuckling all-rounder from Pakistan, the debonair Sahid Afridi, has found no takers so far. Another high profile bidding took place over the New Zealander Shane Bond. Bond who recently announced his retirement from test cricket searching a green pasture in the limited version of the cricket seems to have been amply rewarded for his wise decision. After a few hectic bouts of auction which produced a tie- breaking result in favour of Kolkata Knight Rider for a mind-boggling figure of $7,50,00. Bond was earlier associated with India Cricket League earlier. Deccan Chargers which went for him ,had the appointment of losing the auction.
Another player who made it very big in today's auction was the former Aussie middle order batsman Damien Martin who too had a honey moon with Indian Cricket League drew great attention from the IPL franchisees. Finally he landed up in the lap of Rajasthan Royals on a royal price $1,00,000- not too bad for a player who is cricket career has reached the fag-end.
Deccan Chargers who aspired to rope in the formidable speed-merchant Shane Bond without success had to be finally content with the acquisition of West India pace bowler Kemar Roach for a lavish price of $7,20,000. Rajasthan Royal also ensured the services of the Aussie cricketer Adam Voges for $50,000. Other notable acquisitions so far Chennai Super Kings procuring the services of Srilankan cricketer, Thussara Perera for $50,000, King's XI Punjab's winning the bid for Md Kaif for $1,00,000. English batsman Eoin Morgan was bagged by Bangalore Royal Challengers for $2,20,000.
Surprisingly the first phase of the auction has found no takers for cricketers like Bradd Haddin, Sohail Tanveer, Kamran Akmal, Imran Nazir , Phil Huges, Graeme Swann, Wavel Hindis ,Sarwan, Trott and a few others. The only under-19 cricketers who have found takers are Ashok Meenaria by Bangalore Royal Challengers, Deccan Chargers picked up Harmeet Singh and Mumbai Indians Harsha Patel.