Chawla sold to Punjab for $900,000

Sri Lanka's spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan was pick of the spinners when he was bought by Team Kochi for $1million.

Muralitharan, the highest wicket-taker in Tests and ODIs, started with a base price of $300,000, but attracted huge interest from a few teams before Kochi stole the show.

Piyush Chawla came a close second when he was retained by Kings XI Punjab for $900,000 for nine time his base price.

R Ashwin was also retained by champions Chennai Super Kings, who went all out with a massive bid of $850,000 against his base price of $100,000.

Deccan Chargers managed to keep Pragyan Ojha for $500,000, while Murali Kartik starting at $200,000 found no takers.

India leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who previously played for Delhi Daredevils, didn't attract much interest and was taken by Deccan Chargers for $300,000.

New Zealand's Nathan McCullum was sold for his base price of $100,000 to Sahara Pune Warriors, while Team Kochi snapped up Ramesh Powar for $180,000.

Interestingly, Graeme Swann, rated as the top spinner in world cricket, surprisingly did not attract any interest and was unsold. Similarly was the case with Sri Lanka's mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis.

"The interest in England players is based on their availability. South Africa, New Zealand are the only countries other than India, whose player would be available for the full season in 2010 and 2011 and that is why their players are getting a good bid," an official from Delhi Daredevils said.