King's XI Punjab make late bid for Bopara

Chennai Superkings started Ravi Bopara's bidding at $150,000. Bangalore raised the bid to $160,000. Mallya raised the bid to $180,000 after Chennai said $170,000. Bangalore and Chennai were the only bidders for Bopara, raising the bid to $200,000, $250,000 and $275000. Kings XI Punjab made a grand entrance at $400,000 and eventually raised it to $450,00, the winning bid.

Ravi Bopara is of Punjabi origin and returns to his roots. There were no bidders for another England allrounder Luke Wright though.

Sri Lankan medium-pacer Nuwan Kulasekara's bidding began at $100,000 but there were no takers. His recent performances against India have evidently not convinced many in India. Kulasekara's team-mate Thilan Thushara was about to be sold to Chennai at $120,000 but Kolkata raised it to $130,000. Chennai clearly wanted Thushara so they went up to $140,000 and got him.