Veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has been purchased by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for ₹8.25 crore on Day 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction in Bengaluru on Saturday.The 36-year-old, who was the first player to go under the hammer, had a base price of ₹2 crore and was part of the marquee set. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) were among the franchises involved in a bidding war for the experienced left-hander. In the end, PBKS acquired his services for ₹8.25 crore.Dhawan represented DC in the last couple of IPL seasons and had impressive returns. He smashed 618 runs in 17 matches during the 2020 season at an average of 44.14 and a strike rate of 144.73. The southpaw also became the first player to strike consecutive hundreds in the T20 league.Punjab Kings@PunjabKingsIPLShikhar Dhawan joins #PBKS, after an intense bidding war with Delhi Capitals for 8.25 cr! No if, no but, only jatt! 🦁#SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #TATAIPLAuction #IPLAuction12:19 PM · Feb 12, 20221167134Shikhar Dhawan joins #PBKS, after an intense bidding war with Delhi Capitals for 8.25 cr! No if, no but, only jatt! 🦁#SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #TATAIPLAuction #IPLAuctionIn the 2021 edition, he scored 587 runs in 16 matches at an average of 39.13 and a strike rate of 124.62.Twitter reactions to PBKS purchasing Dhawan Twitterati reacted to the news of PBKS purchasing Dhawan for ₹8.25 crore with some interesting posts. Some claimed the franchise had found their captain while others pointed out that Punjab would have a strong opening pair of Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal. Here are some of the Twitter reactions:Harsha Bhogle@bhogleharshaSo Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal will open the batting for Punjab Kings!12:15 PM · Feb 12, 20227782311So Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal will open the batting for Punjab Kings!Harbhajan Turbanator@harbhajan_singhTop pick by punjab kings @SDhawan25 Could be captain .. Punjabi munda with punjab 12:27 PM · Feb 12, 2022245682Top pick by punjab kings @SDhawan25 Could be captain .. Punjabi munda with punjab 💥Sarang Bhalerao@bhaleraosarangShikhar Dhawan picked by Punjab Kings for 8.25 cr. Will be interesting to see him opening with Mayank AgarwalDhawan's IPL Teams: DD, MI, DCH, SRH, PBKS #IPLMegaAuction12:14 PM · Feb 12, 2022731Shikhar Dhawan picked by Punjab Kings for 8.25 cr. Will be interesting to see him opening with Mayank AgarwalDhawan's IPL Teams: DD, MI, DCH, SRH, PBKS #IPLMegaAuctionSagar@sagarcasmShikhar Dhawan is the opposite of pollution. He moved from Delhi to Punjab#IPLAuction12:15 PM · Feb 12, 2022147670Shikhar Dhawan is the opposite of pollution. He moved from Delhi to Punjab#IPLAuctionJatin Sapru@jatinsapruWhat a start by Shikhar Dhawan - Also, have Punjab found their captain in him ? #TATAIPLAuction12:15 PM · Feb 12, 202284018What a start by Shikhar Dhawan - Also, have Punjab found their captain in him ? #TATAIPLAuctionThe Bharat Army@thebharatarmy GABBAR TO PBKS! Captaincy option secured for Punjab Kings who rope in experienced Shikhar Dhawan!📸 Getty • #ShikharDhawan #PunjabKings #PBKS #TATAIPLAuction #IPLAuction #IPLMegaAuction #IPL #BharatArmy12:22 PM · Feb 12, 2022502💰💪 GABBAR TO PBKS! Captaincy option secured for Punjab Kings who rope in experienced Shikhar Dhawan!📸 Getty • #ShikharDhawan #PunjabKings #PBKS #TATAIPLAuction #IPLAuction #IPLMegaAuction #IPL #BharatArmy https://t.co/BcuwxQfWweAshutosh Srivastava@ashutosh_sri8Excited to watch Shikhar Dhawan Gabbar in PBKS #IPL2022 12:30 PM · Feb 12, 202295Excited to watch Shikhar Dhawan Gabbar in PBKS #IPL2022 ❤️ https://t.co/P553h1pBrBPakchikpak Raja Babu@HaramiParindeyShikhar Dhawan went from Delhi to Punjab. In the next few years, you will find him playing for Canada.12:20 PM · Feb 12, 202214614Shikhar Dhawan went from Delhi to Punjab. In the next few years, you will find him playing for Canada.श्री महाबली बांड्या जी 🐦@MahabaliBandyaShikhar Dhawan after joining Punjab kings at price of 8.25Cr #IPLMegaAuction12:14 PM · Feb 12, 2022182Shikhar Dhawan after joining Punjab kings at price of 8.25Cr 😹#IPLMegaAuction https://t.co/7h3mxefZbZUP ka Ladka@NavjaatSPidduThe moment when @PunjabKingsIPL decide to buy Shikhar Dhawan in the auction.#IPLMegaAuction12:29 PM · Feb 12, 20221The moment when @PunjabKingsIPL decide to buy Shikhar Dhawan in the auction.#IPLMegaAuction https://t.co/jZTSozfUQ7Siddharth Agarwal@siddyagAlready feeling for @ParthJindal11 . That disappointed on his face for @SDhawan25 @ashwinravi99. Just hope @DelhiCapitals gets it right at the end of the auction. #DelhiCapitals #IPLMegaAuction202212:30 PM · Feb 12, 2022Already feeling for @ParthJindal11 . That disappointed on his face for @SDhawan25 @ashwinravi99. Just hope @DelhiCapitals gets it right at the end of the auction. #DelhiCapitals #IPLMegaAuction2022Phoebe's Sock Bunny@TheKumpa#PunjabKings already looking like a strong team with clear anchors in the front and back @SDhawan25 and @KagisoRabada25 #IPL2212:32 PM · Feb 12, 2022#PunjabKings already looking like a strong team with clear anchors in the front and back @SDhawan25 and @KagisoRabada25 #IPL22Aditya Singh Rawat@Catslayer_999PBKS not holding back at the #IPLMegaAuction2022 as they look to establish a strong lineup for the coming years.#ShikharDhawan for 8.25 Cr#KagisoRabada for 9.25 Cr#PBKS #IPLMegaAuction #IPL2022Auction12:30 PM · Feb 12, 20222PBKS not holding back at the #IPLMegaAuction2022 as they look to establish a strong lineup for the coming years.#ShikharDhawan for 8.25 Cr#KagisoRabada for 9.25 Cr#PBKS #IPLMegaAuction #IPL2022AuctionShikhar Dhawan’s overall IPL recordDhawan is among a handful of players who have played in each and every edition of the IPL since its inception in 2008. He has featured in a total of 192 matches, amassing 5784 runs at an average of 34.84 and a strike rate of 126.64. He has two hundreds and 44 fifties to his credit.The 36-year-old is second on the list of batters with the most runs in the IPL. Only former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli (6283) has scored more runs than Dhawan in the Indian T20 League.Apart from Delhi, the opener had earlier represented the Deccan Chargers (DC), Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL.