The Indian 'Paisa' League auctions

With owners of all the ten IPL teams turning up in all the finery, Indian Premier League Edition 4 auctions in Bangalore could be called anything but non-flamboyant.

BusinessToday.In

Updated Jan 15, 2011, 12:25 PM IST

1/25

The Indian Premier League (IPL) might as well be rechristened the Indian Paisa League after what happened in Bangalore on January 8th and 9th. Over $62.8 million were spent on acquiring 127 players by 10 IPL teams, as a national audience watched.

The fact that each team had a spending cap of $9 million helped bring sanity to the proceedings. Shutterbugs, including BT's Deepak Pawar, were kept busy as IPL team owners, including film stars Shilpa Shetty and Preity Zinta, turned up in their finery to bid for the players.

By the time British auctioneer Richard Madley's (above) hammer came down for the last time, it was clear IPL's fourth season would be larger than all previous editions. Ness Wadia, one of the owners of the Kings XI Punjab franchise, said: "IPL is a proven model and internationally acclaimed. I have no doubt that IPL Edition 4 is going to be very successful and will go up in value."

- K R Balasubramanyam

2/25

Royal Challenger Bangalore's captain for 2010 season, Anil Kumble pulled out of the IPL auctions, which were held on January 8 and 9, 2011, in Bangalore.

3/25

Kings XI Punjab co-owner Preity Zinta arrives with Royal Challengers Bangalore owner Vijay Mallya for the IPL auction on January 8th and 9th in Bangalore.

4/25

BCCI secretary N Srinivasan arrives for the auction.

5/25

Nita Ambani, owner of the Mumbai Indians team, with son Akash Ambani as they arrive to take part in the auction.

6/25

The better half of business tycoon Mukesh Ambani was present on both the days of the auction.

7/25

Owners of Rajasthan Royals, husban and wife Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty arrive for the auction held on January 8th and 9th in Bangalore.

8/25

Chairman GMR sports Srinivas Bommidala arrives for the auction.

9/25

Pune Warriors' owner Sushanto Roy in Bangalore for the IPL players' auction, held on January 8th and 9th.

10/25

Actor Preity Zinta, co-owner of the Punjab IPL team, during the players' auction.

11/25

Kings XI Punjab co-owner Preity Zinta outside the auction room during a break in the session.

12/25

IPL Commissioner Chirayu Amin (right) flanked by Kings XI Punjab team co-owner Ness Wadia (centre) and Royal Challengers team owner Vijay Mallya at a press conference during the IPL auctions.

13/25

Wadia, Amin and Mallya during the press conference.

14/25

Chirayu Amin, Commissioner, Indian Premier League (IPL), at the IPL auctions in Bangalore on January 8, 2011.

15/25

Kings XI Punjab's co-owner Ness Wadia during a press conference at the IPL auction.

16/25

Royal Challengers Bangalore owner Vijay Mallya at a press conference during the auctions.

17/25

From the auction room: Royal Challengers Bangalore core group.

18/25

From the auction room: Mumbai Indians' Nita Ambani bids for a player.

19/25

Nita Ambani dressed in blue, her Mumbai Indians team colour, on both the days to bring in some extra luck during the auctions.

20/25

Co-owner of Kings XI Punjab Preity Zinta arrives for a press conference.

21/25

Rajasthan Royals owner actor Shilpa Shetty addresses the media outside the auction venue.

22/25

Kolkata Knight Riders' CEO and MD Venky Mysore at the IPL 2011 Auction in Bangalore.

23/25

From the auction room: The Kings XI Punjab think-tank.

24/25

From the auction room: The Rajasthan Royals' core team.

25/25

At the end of a long day: Auctioneer Richard Madley in good spirits after the auction ended.

The Indian 'Paisa' League auctions

With owners of all the ten IPL teams turning up in all the finery, Indian Premier League Edition 4 auctions in Bangalore could be called anything but non-flamboyant.

More In-Pic

The Cabinet Reshuffle

The Real Story behind Bigg Boss 4

TOP VIDEOS

Recommended