MUMBAI: The IPL auction ahead of the sixth season turned out to be a lavish affair with nine franchises spending $11.89 million on 37 players with 24-year-old Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell leading the pack with a $1 million purchase by Mukesh Ambani-owned Mumbai Indians.

The Sunday?s auction came alive with a bidding war between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad for Maxwell, who was the only person to get a seven figure deal. Sun TV-owned franchise applied the brakes at $975,000 which saw Mumbai Indians getting Maxwell for $1 million.

Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis went to Pune Warriors for $725,000. Unknown Australian pacer Kane Richardson went for $700,000 to the same team.

In contrast to Maxwell?s good fortune, more experienced Australian players Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, also the two marquee players at the auction, went at their base price of $400,000 to Mumbai Indians and Pune Warriors India respectively.

South African all-rounder Chris Morris, who has played only one T20, was taken by Chennai Super Kings for $625,000. Sri Lankan off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake whose base price was $50,000 went to the Kolkata Knight Riders for $625,000.

Uncapped Australian Nathan Coulter-Nile got $450,000 from Mumbai.

Among the Indian cricketers who did well Abhishek Nayar, who last played for Kings XI Punjab, went to Pune Warriors for $675,000. Sunrisers paid $500,000 for Manpreet Gony and Royal Challengers Bangalore paid $525,000 for Jaydev Unadkat.

The Sunrisers picked up six players. Royal Challengers Bangalore picked up seven players, Mumbai and Chennai bought five players each. Shah Rukh Khan?s Kolkata Knight Riders and Preity Zinta?s Kings XI Punjab bought two players each. Delhi Daredevils bought three players.

IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said that the franchises wanted to only fill specific slots in their squads. He also said that the next IPL auction would see 350 to 400 players being traded.

"It?s not a full-fledged auction. The franchises this time only wanted to fill the places in the squads. It?s not like it has gone down and all. Next year we will have a full-fledged auction where in there will be over 350 to 400 players in fray," Shukla said.

MUMBAI: West Indian power hitter Chris Gayle has finally reached a compromise agreement with the nation?s cricket governing body WICB (West Indies Cricket Board) that was brokered by socio-economic organisation, Caribbean Community.

The agreement though comes with a rider that he is honour-bound to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the English Friends Provident Twenty20 league this season that might make his comeback to the national difficult.

"The Board was advised that Mr Chris Gayle has signed the Caricom-brokered agreement, but with a ?side letter? from Mr Gayle," the WICB said in a release.

"Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr Ralph Gonsalves, provided a copy of Mr Gayle?s ?side letter?. The matter was discussed and the Board will respond to the Honourable Prime Minister shortly," it said.

Earlier this year, the 32-year-old Jamaican signed a new deal with IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore to play in this year?s edition. He has also inked a one-year deal with Somerset to play in the Friends Provident League.

In April last year, Gayle had criticised West Indies Cricket Board and coach Ottis Gibson which resulted in his ouster from the team and has not played for the team since. However, Gayle?s reputation as a big hitter saw him being invited to play for various Twenty20 tournaments like Bangladesh Premier League and Big Bash League.

MUMBAI: West Indian opener Chris Gayle has joined IPL franchise Royal challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the 2011 IPL as a replacement for Dirk Nannes. He was the recipient of the Orange Cap for being the highest scorer in IPL 2011.

Gayle also played for RCB in the CLT20 2011. He was a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the first three editions of the IPL.

Royal Challengers Sports director Sidhartha Mallya said, "We are delighted to make Chris Gayle a permanent member of our IPL squad. He is one of the best batsmen in the world. His form helped us qualify for the final of the 2011 edition of the tournament. We are confident that with players like him in our side, we will take the extra step this season, and win our maiden IPL title".