Jan. 8: Ever since its advent, the Indian Premier League has meant big bucks and every auction has simply reinforced the belief. Over the last two auctions the buying powers of the franchisees has increased manifold and players’ fees have risen spectacularly, but nothing can come close to the staggering amount of money that was spent on the ‘marquee players’ on the first day of the IPL-4 auctions in the city, on Saturday. A mind-boggling amount of $52.85m was spent collectively by the franchisees of the $72.3 available in their kitty.

In 2009, when Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen were picked up for $1.55m, there was general disbelief all around given the recession but in the second decade of the Millennium when the economy has bounced back, the cricketers’ value went through the roof as three players breached the $2m mark with the IPL owners coughing up the money without raising a sweat.

If the Englishmen had garnered the attention two years ago, it was an entirely Indian domination this time around as the owners, realising the value and importance of the home players, stretched their purse strings to the limit to pick up their valuable assets. Gautam Gambhir, 29, and a stellar member of the Indian team, became the costliest player of IPL-4 with Kolkata Knight Riders paying a cool $2.4 million (Rs 10.8 crore) to net the opening batsman, who was let go by Delhi Daredevils.

In a stunning start to the auctions at the ITC Gardenia, Gambhir, the first player to come up in the draw, forced intense bidding between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kochi and just when Vijay Mallya appeared to have netted the catch, in came KKR, who despite Shah Rukh Khan’s conspicuous absence at the venue, jumped into the fray at $2m before auctioneer Richard Madeley’s hammer came down at a jaw-dropping $2.4m.

It set the senses tingling and heart beats racing and there was looking back. KKR, with money flowing and having devised their strategies, went all out for T20 specialist Yusuf Pathan netting him for $2.1m but new entrant Pune stoked the fire, outbidding their main rivals Kochi and leaving them for dead in picking up Robin Uthappa for $2.1m. It was mind-boggling stuff as Uthappa had started at a relatively low base price of $200,000!

The third-ever auction had set the trend and it turned memorable as Mumbai Indians warded off a stiff challenge from Deccan Chargers for their home boy Rohit Sharma, who had turned out for the latter in the previous three editions. Sharma, a utility cricketer, pushed the two outfits into a tough battle before the Chargers gave in to Mumbai a t the $2m mark.

Giving an insight into their leadership, Pune bagged Yuvraj for $1.8m beating back a concerted effort from Mumbai, Chargers and the Kings XI for the southpaw, who can be devastating on his day. The Chargers, showed that plenty of hours had gone in strategising as they picked up the fiery South African fast bowler, Dale Steyn, the world No.1 for $1.2 m. It was a superb buy and they complemented it by buying all-rounder Australian Cameron White for $1.1m.

But all the attention was riveted on Indians as all-rounder Irfan Pathan’s pick showed. The Pathan brothers had a great day.