Karthik, Uthappa get big deals; Mumbai buy Hussey for 5 crore

The second and third round of the IPL auction threw up a few surprises, India discards Dinesh Karthik and Robin Uthappa both commanding high prices.

Dinesh Karthik was the surprise beneficiary in the second round of Wednesday's auction for the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League.

The former Mumbai Indians player started with a base price of Rs 2 crore. 

Delhi Daredevils, who bid for almost every player,  started the bid  and were engaged with Sunrisers Hyderabad for quite some time. However, the latter subsequently pulled down the shutters.

The bid went up to Rs 10 crore in no time and Sunrisers got into the action again, raising it one last time to 10.50 crore.

Kolkata Knight Riders made a late entry, but Delhi remained in the hunt with 12.5 crore.

Eventually, Karthik was bought by Delhi Daredevils, who had earlier snapped up Kevin Pietersen for Rs 9 crore, as Mumbai Indians opted not to retain the player.

They were teammates at the now defunct Pune Warriors. And the team's two best batsmen last season.

This season both Aaron Finch and Robin Uthappa commanded high prices. 

Uthappa started with a base price of Rs 2 crore and eventually was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 5 crore.

Sunrisers Hyderabad took Finch for Rs 4 crore. 

Zaheer Khan is back with Mumbai Indians.

The veteran fast bowler was the last player in the second round and started with a base price of Rs 1 crore.

Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad entered into a bidding war with the price going up to Rs 2.6 crore, before the latter backed out.

Royal Challengers Bangalore did not match the amount and the player was bought back by Mumbai Indians.

This was a surprise. 

Michael Hussey was a big success with Chennai Super Kings. However, the franchise neither retained him nor exercised their option to buy him back. 

The Australian had a base price of Rs 2 crore.

Mumbai Indians bought him for Rs 5 crore.

Chennai Super Kings made a smart move by opting to buy New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.

McCullum, who played for Kolkata Knight Riders and the now defunct Kochi Tuskers earlier, holds the second highest score in the history of the competition.

The in-form player had a base price of Rs 2 crore.

Chennai Super Kings had to dish out Rs 3.25 crores for his services.

Cheteshwar Pujara was sold to Kings XI Punjab for Rs 1.9 crore.

The classy batsman had a base price of Rs. 1.50 crore but did not evoke much interest.

Delhi jumped into the picture but Punjab raised the bid and emerged successful.

Chennai retained Faf du Plessis using the 'Right to Match' option for Rs 4.75 crore.

The South African batsman had a base price of Rs 1.5 crore.

Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils took the bid to Rs 4 crore within no time, with both not holding back.

But when Delhi upped the bid to Rs 4.75 crore, Mumbai opted out.

Chennai Super Kings got him back using the 'Right to Match' option.