Franchises spend $12.1m in Round 1

India's batting mainstay Gautam Gambhir became the highest-paid player in the history of the Indian Premier League when he was purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping $2.4m.

Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff held the earlier record when they were purchased in the last auction for $1.55m. But Pietersen got a lukewarm response this time and was sold only for $600,000.

Yusuf Pathan, as expected, also crossed the million-dollar mark and bagged the second highest-price at $2.1m and was once again purchased by Shahrukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders.

Yuvraj Singh became the first purchase for newly-formed Sahara Pune Warriors when he was purchased for $1.8million.

There were a couple of surprises with Ross Taylor, Mahela Jayawardene and AB de Villiers also crossing the million-dollar mark.

Taylor was purchased by Rajasthan Royals for $1million, while IPL Kochi made it's first buy in Sri Lanka's Jayawardene for $1.5million and AB de Villiers was snapped up Royal Challengers Bangalore for $1.1million.

India's top pacer Zaheer Khan, however, failed to join the million-dollar mark when he was bought by Bangalore for $900,000, who also bought Tillakaratne Dilshan for $650,000.

Round 1:
Gautam Gambhir: $2.4 million for Kolkata Knight Riders
Tilakratne Dilshan: $ 650,000 to Royal Challengers Bangalore
Zaheer Khan: $900,000 to Royal Challengers Bangalore
Ross Taylor: $1 million to Rajasthan Royals
Yusuf Pathan: $2.1 million to Kolkata Knight Riders
Kevin Pietersen: $650,000 to Deccan Chargers
Mahela Jayawardene: $1.5 million to Kochi
Yuvraj Singh: $1.8 million to Pune Warriors
AB de Villiers: $1.1 million to Royal Challengers Bangalore