Shreyas Iyer and Pat Cummins moves to Kolkata while Delhi gets David Warner  

The bidding war has begun and it started with the Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan. Rajasthan and Delhi started the bidding war but it was Punjab who came in late and bought Shikhar Dhawan for 8.25 crore. The former Delhi opener has been very crucial for Delhi’s success in the past and the Punjab team will hope that he does something similar for them and can give them their first title.

Next in the list, Ravichandran Ashwin’s name came up and the former Delhi player had to leave his home. Delhi did bid for the spinner but Rajasthan was ready to spend 7.6 crore for the Indian spinner which Delhi didn’t want to. No other team went after him and thus, Ashwin will play alongside Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

The Australian speedster will be returning back to his home at Kolkata. Kolkata spent a lot of money on him in the previous mega auction but got him for 7.25 crore this time. The Australian red ball captain missed the second part of the Indian T20 League but will be returning this year and what better place than to your old franchise?

The South African pacer Kagiso Rabada has found himself a new home as he will be playing for Punjab in the upcoming Indian T20 League for a whooping 9.25 crore. Teams like Delhi and Gujarat were behind him but it was Punjab who went a step ahead and got their player.

Mumbai did go after their successful pacer Trent Boult but lost the bidding war to Rajasthan to got their man Trent Boult. After Ashwin, Boult is a fantastic addition to the team as their bowling line-up already looks steady and ready to fire. The Rajasthan franchise got this Kiwi pacer for 8 crores.

Everyone knew that the teams would break their bank for Shreyas Iyer and so did they. Delhi, Bangalore, Lucknow and Gujarat tried to get Shreyas in their team but Kolkata spent 12.25 crores to bring him on board. He is very likely to lead the franchise in the upcoming auction and the Kolkata franchise will be very happy to have him as their middle order was putting them under pressure in the previous few seasons.

The Indian pacer Mohammed Shami was in huge demand at the auction table. Gujarat, Lucknow, Bangalore and Kolkata fought for his service but the player will be playing for Gujarat in the upcoming season. Gujarat spent 6.25 crore for him and it looks like a good buy for this new franchise.

Next it was time for three overseas openers – Quinton De Kock, Faf Du Plessis and David Warner. Chennai tried to get their hands on all the three players but failed to match the bid. Bangalore got Faf for 7 crores while Lucknow spent 6.75 crores for Quinton De Kock and Delhi got David Warner for 6.25 crore. Can you imagine Prithvi Shaw and David Warner opening for Delhi and Rishabh Pant in the middle order? Deadly combination up there.