KEY POINTS:
New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum has drawn top dollar as some of cricket's biggest names went under the hammer in Mumbai in a unique auction.
Eight franchises in the new Indian Premier League, the officially-sanctioned Indian competition, due to start next month, are bidding for the cream of cricket's talent.
Brendon McCullum drew the top dollar, being bought for US$700,000 ( $875,658)by the Kolkatta franchise. Two of his team mates were not far behind.
All rounder Jacob Oram joins Chennai for US$675,000 alongside the top earner out of the acution, Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who fetched US$ 1.5 million.
New Zealand captain, Daniel Vettori, has gone to the Delhi franchise for US$625,000.
Stephen Fleming was bought by Chennai for his base price of US$350,000.
Two other New Zealanders, Stephen Fleming and Scott Styris, were due to go under the hammer last night.
Australian wicket-kpper Adam Gilchrist, tipped to be the first million dollar player, was sold for US$700,000 for Hyderabad while spinning great Shane Warne fetched only US$450,000 put up by Jaipur franchise.