IPL History: Looking back at how the first-ever player auction unfolded

Highlights from Day 1 and Day 2 of the auction

MS Dhoni was sold for the highest amount in the auction.

The total of 77 players including 48 foreign players went under the hammer on the opening day of the player auction, with the established players finding themselves in groups A, B, C and D, while the other players' services were auctioned under groups E, F, G and H.

First player sold

Shane Warne became the first player to be sold in the history of IPL when he was purchased by the Rajasthan Royals for his base price of ₹3.21 Crores ($450,000)

First Indian player sold

The first Indian player to be signed by a franchise in the history of IPL was Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who also happened to be the costliest player in the first edition of IPL when he was snapped by Chennai Super Kings for close to ₹10.73 crores ($1500,000), which was 3.75 times his base price set at ₹2.86 crores ($400,000).

Most expensive foreign player

Andrew Symonds was the most expensive foreign signing on the opening day, as he landed a contract worth ₹9.66 crores ($1350,000) with the Deccan Chargers, a 5.4 times increment on his base price of ₹1.78 crores ($250,000).

First buys

With a host of international stars available for the IPL franchises to sign, bidding wars ensued for most players, but there were quite a few landmark signings.

Deccan Chargers - Adam Gilchrist

Kolkata Knight Riders - Shoaib Akhtar

Kings XI Punjab - Mahela Jayawardene

Royal Challengers Bangalore - Anil Kumble

Delhi Daredevils - Glenn McGrath

Chennai Super Kings - M.S. Dhoni

Mumbai Indians - Harbhajan Singh

Rajasthan Royals - Shane Warne