Dhoni, McCullum fetch million dollar deals in IPL draft

E-Paper | March 12, 2026

NEW DELHI: Indian and New Zealand skippers Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Brendon McCullum were drafted for more than one million dollars into new cricket teams on Tuesday for the Indian Premier League following a graft scandal.

A new team from the western city of Pune paid 125 million rupees (US $1.8 million) for limited overs captain Dhoni for the next edition of the lucrative Twenty20 tournament.

Dhoni joins Australian captain Steven Smith who was sold for 55 million rupees ($820,000) and South African T20 captain Faf du Plessis who went for 40 million rupees ($597,000) on the same team.

The other franchise from the western city of Rajkot chose McCullum for 75 million rupees ($1.1 million), James Faulkner for 55 million rupees ($820,000) and West Indian Dwayne Bravo for 40 million rupees ($597,000).

The franchises have replaced Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals — teams banned from the glitzy tournament for two years on the recommendation of a Supreme Court-appointed panel, after a corruption scandal.

They were allowed to choose five stars from each of the banned teams, while the rest were released into a pool for auction.

Australia's Shane Watson and Mike Hussey, South Africa's Chris Morris and the West Indies' Dwayne Smith remain unsold and will now be auctioned in Bangalore in February.

The 2013 IPL season was mired in controversy after police launched legal proceedings against several officials from the teams and three Rajasthan Royals' players for illegal betting and spot-fixing.

Suresh Raina, who played for the Chennai Super Kings alongside Dhoni, fetched 125 million rupees from Rajkot which also chose all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.

“Excited to play for the beautiful vibrant city- Rajkot in @IPL. Looking forward to have new teammates and support from the people of Gujarat,” Raina tweeted.

Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane and spinner R Ashwin were picked by Pune for 95 million and 75 million rupees.

Both Chennai and Rajasthan are expected to return to the IPL after their bans end following the 2017 edition.

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Indian

Dec 15, 2015 05:20pm

I think these players deserve this money because after retirement no one would ask about them.

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citizen

Dec 15, 2015 05:45pm

Money! money! everyplayer... No wants to give it a miss....

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joe

Dec 15, 2015 08:27pm

I do hope Pakistan now realize what is paid by IPL to get best players in world. That also is the reason Pakistan players want to be part of IPL Money does matter..

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Anas

Dec 15, 2015 10:19pm

Over-priced, someone needs to prepare an analysis on how much each player rakes in terms of revenue

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Karma

Dec 15, 2015 10:58pm

...New teams wont get central contract money from BCCI....Still 66 crores will be spent on players by each team and in addition to this new teams will be giving 10 crores back to BCCI according to reverse auction...Totally it is 76 crores.. With only tickets sale and team sponsorship, these teams can't recover that spent money...Unless they fix matches in the tournament. I think match fixing is going happen heavily this time too....

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Amir Shah

Dec 16, 2015 12:26am

It's interesting that two teams were banned for corruption but the players are allowed to take part in other teams. It could only happen in India and that to Indian players only. Had there been any other country or players, they would have never been allowed to take part in this tournament. Double standards yet again by ICC.

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Luke Francis

Dec 16, 2015 12:35am

IPL's to start....It's the real deal...

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Satyameva Jayate

Dec 16, 2015 01:18am

I know we cannot compare the two, but mind does weer to ask how much does $2.9 Million for just two players mean in terms of PSL?

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GKA

Dec 16, 2015 01:26am

@Amir Shah What do you mean only happen in India - as if there is no corruption in Pakistan ? Conveniently forgetting the players that were convicted for match fixing.

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Steve Boston USA

Dec 16, 2015 01:39am

@Amir Shah I do not think you know the reasons behind the punishment or the facts. Players who took part in fixing matches are serving jail terms in Delhi and are banned for life. Can you name one player in any other country. Franchise are paying the price too. So please check the facts before you write.

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Jey

Dec 16, 2015 01:41am

@Amir Shah You do not seem to have an idea about what the issue was and why the teams were suspended. Yet you still chose to express your opinions! The teams were suspended because the owners of these teams were involved in some kind of corrupt practices. It was so obvious none of the teams players were ever involved in the scam. How can you expect the players to be punished?

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Confused

Dec 16, 2015 02:31am

@joe And I also hope, that millions of homeless and hungry in the country do realise that IPL is only there, for their help.

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Sam

Dec 16, 2015 02:59am

@Amir Shah The corruption was at the team management level, hence the management of the team was punished.

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adil

Dec 16, 2015 03:32am

@Karma Have you seen how much the teams get from TV contracts? What they pay the players is peanuts compared to what the teams get just from the TV contract....

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vin

Dec 16, 2015 03:52am

@Amir Shah This is not ICC tournament.

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Sad Hamid

Dec 16, 2015 06:13am

Pakistan should try to poach McCullum by paying him ten times more.

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Rick_james

Dec 16, 2015 06:36am

I won't be surprised if this edition is also mired with corruption. By the way, who in their right mind would pay that much for Dhoni who is a spent force.

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Irfan

Dec 16, 2015 06:52am

@Amir Shah IPL is for Indians, by Indians-so Indians make the rules, you don't like, don't watch.

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diwakar

Dec 16, 2015 10:53am

@Amir Shah ,You are commenting without bothering to know the full story. There were non Indian players also among those picked yesterday.

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malika

Dec 16, 2015 11:06am

@Satyameva Jayate dude PSL is way bigger than IPL. We have roped in kevin pietersen, chris gayle and all the big names. How can u call it twenty twenty when there is no afridi? I pity you people.

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Gulzar

Dec 16, 2015 11:18am

Can any one explain how management can be corrupt with the players involved in a cricket match???

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Rishabh

Dec 16, 2015 11:21am

@malika dream dream till u wake psl can never match ipl revenue and quality. ..

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byju

Dec 16, 2015 11:58am

@malika nice joke! i almost died laughing.

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Kunal

Dec 16, 2015 12:13pm

@malika You don't really know much about cricket and economics, do you? Comparing IPL with PSL is like comparing chalk and cheese.. And please don't pity on us.. Although thank you for your concern but maybe and just maybe we are kinda alright without Afridi:-)

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citizen

Dec 16, 2015 12:24pm

@malika I appreciate ur comment. I got the humer part. Thank u.

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Karan sharma

Dec 16, 2015 12:57pm

Hey guys...plzz stop comparing Ipl vs psl Both r giving opportunity to players to earn n show their talent. Plz stop this war.. One ques.. Rather than ind vs pak Can be praise each other??? Plzz njoy the cricket.. For me psl n ipl both matter alot a source of entertainment n platform to perform.. Stop comparing N njoy the cricket. All d best for psl :):)

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Lokesh

Dec 16, 2015 02:29pm

@ malika, Nike joke, but let me tell you one thing that emotions are good, but it should not succeed the reality. anyways all the best to PSL.

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Dipak Singh

Dec 16, 2015 02:35pm

@Karan sharma PSL still not started so how do you say PSL is entertaining or income for players bla bla bla... btw best of luck for PSL :)

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seeker

Dec 16, 2015 02:41pm

Who cares? many of us in India are losing interest in IPL.

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daddy

Dec 16, 2015 02:42pm

@malika it tells a lot about ur common sense, open your eyes, come out of dark and see the real world dude....

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Karan sharna

Dec 16, 2015 02:52pm

@Dipak Singh bro for me cricket means entertainment Thats why i said that :)

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malika

Dec 16, 2015 02:53pm

@Rishabh it will match and will definitely exceed it. Remember PSL is being played in UAE. Anyone with common sense will tell you that sharjah and dubai will get more income than mumbai and delhi. Wake up.

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malika

Dec 16, 2015 02:54pm

@Kunal When the PSL is completed and when PCB announces the revenues we shall see how many of the foreign players remain in IPL and how many shall switch over to PSL.

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Mraduhas tripathi

Dec 16, 2015 02:55pm

@malika hahahahaha!!!!!!! can't stop laughing!!!!

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malika

Dec 16, 2015 02:56pm

@daddy looks like you know nothing about how revenues are obtained in cricket. Go ask your Harsha Bhugle

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sam

Dec 16, 2015 03:34pm

off-topic but very relvant. In the comments below both Pakistanis & Indians are trying hard to have an upper hand comparing PSL and IPL. Reading these comments makes me realize that this has been the case all along since independence and in all walks of life. Be it defence, be it economy, be it international relations, and naturally the two religions. I think if both these folks disconnected from this mindset of trying to hurt the other and if they would simply enjoy what they have, we would all be happier & peace will simply manifest out of this new mindset.

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M.ASIF

Dec 16, 2015 03:36pm

Corruption is bound to happen if sports is commercialised.FIFA officials is an example. Income does not justify expenditure in case of IPL. Gambling turned into industry, illegal practices generated . Corruption surfaced involving officials and players during IPL season in 2013. It is quite unfair and unhealthy environment for sports that must be strictly clean affair.

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Kunal

Dec 16, 2015 05:02pm

@malika Sure Malika.. Playing the matches of PSL on Foreign grounds would not give the same returns as compared to playing at home.. Plus, the amount of money riding on IPL would dwarf any other 20-20 league in the subcontinent.. It is rather foolhardy to get into comparisons at this point in time considering PSL is yet to take off. For all you know, it may just go beyond the expectations of people; however, I would be very cautious before comparing the two.. Simply because of the legacy involved.. 8 years of operational experience of IPL in all probabilities would give it a bit of an advantage.. I am not even sure why and how you got into comparing both the leagues but the sanity says, 'NOT YET'..

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Hitesh

Dec 16, 2015 05:17pm

@malika - You should have said, "when the PSL is started and completed"

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joe

Dec 16, 2015 07:49pm

@Confused Sports is one thing and welfare is another. I am sure you know that there's no polio case in India .. I do hope you know that there's something called medical tourism..India is earning in billions. I am sure you are aware that India produces 2 largest engineers and doctors in world. The list goes on..

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sad

Dec 17, 2015 09:50am

@Karma Have some common sense and get your economics right.. Real revenue comes from broadcasting rights.. Do you know how many people watch IPL..

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