# 2011 IPL player auction
The 2011 IPL player auction was the player auction of the [Indian Premier League](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-premier-league) (IPL) held on 8 and 9 January 2011 in [Bangalore](https://www.edgepedia.org/bangalore), in which the league's ten franchises bid for cricketers ahead of the 2011 season. It was a mega auction held at the start of a new cycle of player contracts: 127 players were sold for a combined $62,775,000, and [Gautam Gambhir](https://www.edgepedia.org/gautam-gambhir) topped the bidding at $2,400,000 to the Kolkata Knight Riders.[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-player-auction-racks-up-record-numbers) • [2](https://salarysport.com/cricket/ipl/auction/2011/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates and place | 8 and 9 January 2011, Bangalore, ahead of the fourth IPL season[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-player-auction-racks-up-record-numbers) |
| Players sold | 127 of 353 listed; 226 went unsold[3](https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/35044/ipl-squads-after-the-auctions) |
| Total spent | $62.8 million across two days[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-player-auction-racks-up-record-numbers) |
| Most expensive buy | Gautam Gambhir, $2,400,000, Kolkata Knight Riders (base price $200,000)[2](https://salarysport.com/cricket/ipl/auction/2011/) |
| Salary cap | $9 million per franchise; retention of up to four players at fixed deductions of $1.8m, $1.3m, $900,000, and $500,000[4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sltVJiMZyqc) |
| New franchises | Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala bought at an IPL auction for the first time as the league grew from eight teams to ten[2](https://salarysport.com/cricket/ipl/auction/2011/) |
| Retained players | 12 cricketers retained in advance, including MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Virender Sehwag[5](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/12-cricketers-retained-by-franchises) |
## Retention stage
Before the auction, each of the eight founding franchises could retain up to four players, of which only three could be Indian, against fixed deductions from the $9 million salary cap. On 8 December 2010, twelve cricketers were retained. [Chennai Super Kings](https://www.edgepedia.org/chennai-super-kings) kept Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Murali Vijay, and Albie Morkel; [Mumbai Indians](https://www.edgepedia.org/mumbai-indians) kept [Sachin Tendulkar](https://www.edgepedia.org/sachin-tendulkar), Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga, and Kieron Pollard; Delhi Daredevils retained Virender Sehwag; Royal Challengers Bangalore retained Virat Kohli; and Rajasthan Royals retained Shane Warne and Shane Watson.[5](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/12-cricketers-retained-by-franchises)
Retention carried a real cost in auction funds. By retaining four players, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings were each left with only $4.5 million to spend, while Delhi Daredevils and [Royal Challengers Bangalore](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-challengers-bangalore) had $7.2 million each; [Rajasthan Royals](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajasthan-royals) had $5.9 million available, pending a Mumbai High Court order, and the remaining franchises had the full $9 million.[5](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/12-cricketers-retained-by-franchises) The two new franchises, Kochi and Pune, instead had the option to sign up to four overseas players who had not previously featured in the IPL.[5](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/12-cricketers-retained-by-franchises)
## How the auction worked
The auction was a mega auction held at the start of a new contract cycle, so each franchise kept only a handful of players and bought the rest of its squad in the room. That is why 127 players were sold, against 11 at the 2010 auction.[2](https://salarysport.com/cricket/ipl/auction/2011/) A total of 353 players were listed and 226 went unsold.[3](https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/35044/ipl-squads-after-the-auctions) Each player went under the hammer at a reserve price; Gambhir, for example, carried a reserve of $200,000 and sold for twelve times that amount.[2](https://salarysport.com/cricket/ipl/auction/2011/)
Bidding was conducted in US dollars. On Day 1, 88 players went under the hammer, with several records broken; on Sunday 9 January, 55 players were taken for $9.9 million, bringing the two-day total to $62.8 million.[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-player-auction-racks-up-record-numbers) • [6](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-auction-day-1-overview) From 10 January, franchises could sign uncapped Indian players outside the auction on fixed fees determined by when the player first played First Class or [List A cricket](https://www.edgepedia.org/list-a-cricket), using the balance of their salary cap.[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-player-auction-racks-up-record-numbers)
## The leading buys
Gautam Gambhir fetched the highest bid of the auction, $2.4 million from [Kolkata Knight Riders](https://www.edgepedia.org/kolkata-knight-riders), who also bought [Yusuf Pathan](https://www.edgepedia.org/yusuf-pathan) for $2.1 million.[2](https://salarysport.com/cricket/ipl/auction/2011/) • [6](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-auction-day-1-overview) The ten most expensive buys were:
| Player | Franchise | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gautam Gambhir | Kolkata Knight Riders | $2,400,000 |
| Robin Uthappa | Pune Warriors India | $2,100,000 |
| Yusuf Pathan | Kolkata Knight Riders | $2,100,000 |
| Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians | $2,000,000 |
| Irfan Pathan | Delhi Daredevils | $1,900,000 |
| Yuvraj Singh | Pune Warriors India | $1,800,000 |
| Saurabh Tiwary | Royal Challengers Bangalore | $1,600,000 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Kochi Tuskers Kerala | $1,500,000 |
| David Hussey | Kings XI Punjab | $1,400,000 |
| Dale Steyn | Deccan Chargers | $1,200,000 |
Sources: Salary Sport list of every player sold[2](https://salarysport.com/cricket/ipl/auction/2011/); franchise assignments for [Irfan Pathan](https://www.edgepedia.org/irfan-pathan), David Hussey, Dale Steyn, Tiwary, and Jayawardene from the BCCI Day 1 overview.[6](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-auction-day-1-overview)
Four players broke the $2 million mark: Gambhir, Uthappa, Pathan, and [Rohit Sharma](https://www.edgepedia.org/rohit-sharma).[7](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jan/08/graeme-swann-james-anderson-ipl) Mahela Jayawardene was the highest-paid overseas player at $1.5 million, bought by Kochi.[3](https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/35044/ipl-squads-after-the-auctions)
## Who went unsold
Several prominent names found no buyer. England's [Graeme Swann](https://www.edgepedia.org/graeme-swann) and James Anderson were snubbed, which the Guardian reported as a surprise given that reduced availability due to calendar clashes had been the expected reason for low English demand.[7](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jan/08/graeme-swann-james-anderson-ipl) Former West Indies captain [Chris Gayle](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-gayle), Sourav Ganguly, Jesse Ryder, Herschelle Gibbs, and Brian Lara, who had signed up despite not playing international cricket since 2007, were also unsold.[7](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jan/08/graeme-swann-james-anderson-ipl) Some unsold players received a second chance on Day 2: Jesse Ryder was then sold to Pune for $150,000, and Glenn Maxwell, Tim Southee, and David Miller were among those who remained unsold.[8](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-player-auction-final-session)
The final purchase of the auction came after the scheduled close, when Pune asked for Mohammad Kaif to be brought back for bidding and the other franchises agreed; Kaif was sold to Royal Challengers Bangalore for $130,000.[8](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-player-auction-final-session)
## What the franchises bought
The 127 players sold came from nine countries: India 45, Australia 36, South Africa 18, Sri Lanka 9, England 7, New Zealand 7, West Indies 3, Bangladesh 1, and Netherlands 1.[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-player-auction-racks-up-record-numbers) Including the 12 retained players, the ten franchises had contracted 139 players by the close, 52 Indian and 87 overseas.[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-player-auction-racks-up-record-numbers)
Spending varied with retention choices. Kolkata Knight Riders bought 12 players for $8,575,000, the largest outlay, topped by Gambhir; Pune Warriors India bought 15 for $8,270,000; and Kochi Tuskers Kerala bought 16 for $7,590,000.[2](https://salarysport.com/cricket/ipl/auction/2011/) Chennai Super Kings, despite having retained four players, spent on 14 players.[3](https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/35044/ipl-squads-after-the-auctions)
The two new franchises built entire squads in the room. Kochi bought 11 players on Day 1 alone, including Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene, Brendon McCullum, S Sreesanth, RP Singh, Parthiv Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, VVS Laxman, and Steven Smith.[6](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-auction-day-1-overview) Pune bought eight on Day 1, centered on Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Graeme Smith, and Angelo Mathews.[6](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-auction-day-1-overview)
## Significance
The auction reshaped several franchises around players bought that January. Kolkata Knight Riders, after three losing seasons, built their side around Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, and Jacques Kallis; Mumbai Indians added Rohit Sharma and Andrew Symonds to their retained core; Royal Challengers Bangalore paired the retained Virat Kohli with Zaheer Khan, Saurabh Tiwary, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and AB de Villiers.[6](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-auction-day-1-overview) The 2011 season ran from 8 April to 28 May 2011, with each team playing 14 games, 7 home and 7 away.[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-player-auction-racks-up-record-numbers)
## References
1. [IPL player auction racks up record numbers, BCCI](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-player-auction-racks-up-record-numbers)
2. [IPL 2011 Auction Prices: Every Player Sold, Salary Sport](https://salarysport.com/cricket/ipl/auction/2011/)
3. [IPL squads after the auctions, Cricbuzz](https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/35044/ipl-squads-after-the-auctions)
4. [IPL Player Auction 2011 (retention rules and salary cap), Royal Challengers Bengaluru, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sltVJiMZyqc)
5. [12 cricketers retained by franchises, BCCI](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/12-cricketers-retained-by-franchises)
6. [IPL Auction Day 1 overview, BCCI](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-auction-day-1-overview)
7. [Graeme Swann and James Anderson snubbed in IPL auction, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jan/08/graeme-swann-james-anderson-ipl)
8. [IPL Player Auction: Final Session, BCCI](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/ipl-player-auction-final-session)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Cricket › Cricket competitions and records › Seasons and editions › Indian Premier League seasons › IPL player auctions › 2011 IPL mega auction*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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