India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was bought for a whopping $2 million by Chennai Super Kings in a hotly contested battle at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction here on Saturday.
Jadeja, who had a base price of $100,000, was bagged in a tie-breaker between Super Kings and Deccan Chargers. The $2 million budget cap for the auction means Super Kings have spent all their money on a single player and cannot participate in the auction any more.
Five marquee players were put up for sale in the first session of the auction at the Royal Gardenia Hotel here and four of them played for defunct Kochi Tuskers in the 2011 edition.
New Zealand batsman-wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum (base price $400,000) was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for $900,000 and was the first player to be sold.
Retired Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan ($200,000) was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for $220,000 while Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene ($300,000) attracted $1.4 million by the Delhi Daredevils after a two-way battle between the Delhi franchise and Deccan Chargers.
England fast bowler James Anderson went unsold with a base price of $300,000.