Stokes leads cash splash in IPL Auction

England's Ben Stokes has been sold to Rising Pune Supergiants for a remarkable AUD $2.8m in the early stages of the 2017 Indian Premier League auction in Bengaluru.

In a hotly-contested period of bidding, Pat Cummins ($875k to Delhi), Nathan Coulter-Nile ($680k to Kolkata), Mitchell Johnson ($390k to Mumbai) and Dan Christian ($194k to Rising Pune Supergiants) were the Australians who found themselves with a six-figure payday, before Billy Stanlake was picked up for $58k by Royal Challengers Bangalore and Ben Laughlin was a late addition to the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad for $58k. 

Stokes, 25, is yet to play IPL but has earned his reputation largely through Test cricket as one of the game's most destructive allrounders. 

Quick Single: IPL auction preview

The Englishman joins Australian rivals Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Adam Zampa and new signing Christian at the Pune franchise, which took part in the IPL for the first time in 2016. 

Stokes' England teammate and largely unheralded Brisbane Heat quick Tymal Mills picked up a massive deal with Royal Challengers Bangalore, selling for $2.3m in the surprise of the day. 

England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan sold to Kings XI Punjab for his base price of $390,000, the same fee paid by Delhi Daredevils for Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews. 

The Daredevils also picked up Kiwi Corey Anderson for $194,000, while Indian allrounder Pawan Negi went to Royal Challengers Bangalore at the same price.

Sydney Sixers star Sean Abbott, the BBL's leading wicket-taker this summer, went unsold, as did the BBL|06 leading run-scorer, Ben Dunk, and Nathan Coulter-Nile and Brad Hogg.

That quintet began what was a humbling day for the Australian contingent who largely found little interest among bidders. 

In the accelerated phase of the auction however, they did fare better, with Coulter-Nile, Christian and Stanlake all picked up at second time of asking.

Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi created history by becoming the first from his country to sign an IPL deal, going to Sunrisers Hyderabad for $58,000, while an hour or so later, he was joined at Sunrisers by his compatriot, 18-year-old leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who went for a staggering $778,000. 

Krishnappa Gowtham, who yesterday laid into Nathan Lyon for India A against the touring Australians, was picked up for well in excess of his base price by Mumbai Indians, who paid $390,000. 

How the Aussies fared (figures in AUD)

Pat Cummins: $875k to Delhi Daredevils

Nathan Coulter-Nile: $680k to Kolkata Knight Riders 

Mitchell Johnson: $390k to Mumbai Indians

Dan Christian: $194k to Rising Puner Supergiants

Billy Stanlake: $58k to Royal Challengers Bangalore

Ben Laughlin: $58k to Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sean Abbott: Unsold

Ben Dunk: Unsold

Brad Hogg: Unsold

Mitchell Swepson: Unsold

Michael Klinger: Unsold

Nic Maddinson: Unsold

Brad Haddin: Unsold

Fawad Ahmed: Unsold

Nathan Lyon: Unsold

Michael Beer: Unsold

In all, a maximum of 76 players can earn contracts from today's auction, among more than 750 registered - effectively giving players a one in 10 shot of earning themselves a share of the IPL riches. 

A purse of approximately AUD $27.8 million will be available with each franchise able to sign a maximum of nine overseas players and 27 in total.