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Smith, Dhoni join forces in IPL

Opposition captains to link up after Indian Premier League draft pairs the two leaders together

Australia captain Steve Smith has a new home in the Indian Premier League after he was drafted to Pune today.

Smith was selected as Pune's fourth pick in the IPL draft, and the seventh selection overall, for Rs 5.5 crore (AUD1.13 million).

Australia allrounder James Faulkner went for the same amount as his one-day skipper, but unlike last year when they both played for the Rajasthan Royals, the pair are now rivals after the Tasmanian was selected by Rajkot.

Shane Watson, who has played for Rajasthan since the IPL's inception in 2008, went undrafted, and along with Ben Cutting, Mike Hussey, Kane Richardson and Andrew Tye, will go into the IPL auction on February 6.

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Faulkner (L) and Faf will continue to sqaure off after being picked in different teams on IPL draft day // BCCI

Smith will join forces with India's MS Dhoni, Ajinkya Rahane and Ravi Ashwin and Proteas T20 captain Faf du Plessis, while Faulkner will call Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Bravo teammates.

The draft was brought on by the suspension of Rajasthan and the Chennai Super Kings following a corruption scandal, with Pune and Rajkot each given two-year licence to replace the disgraced franchises.

Each team was given five picks in the draft of 50 players from the two dismantled teams, with no player able to earn less than their contracts from their existing club.

Former CSK skipper Dhoni was the No.1 draft choice, heading to Pune for Rs 12.5 crore (AUD2.6 million), while Raina went as Rajkot's first pick for the same price.

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Rainia's happy // BCCI

Rahane went second to Pune and allrounder Jadeja to Rajkot for Rs 9.5 crore (AUD1.95 million) each.

Both men were key players in India’s destruction of South Africa in the recent 3-0 Test series romp, but none more so than Ashwin, the wily off-spinner who claimed 31 wickets in the four matches and went for Rs 7.5 crore (1.54 million) to Pune.

Black Caps captain McCullum was the first overseas player selected with the sixth pick of the draft, taken by Rajkot for Rs 7.5 crore (1.54 million).

Smith was next, followed by Faulkner, Du Plessis (AUD822,000) and Melbourne Renegades allrounder Dwayne Bravo (AUD822,000).

The ninth season of the IPL will start on April 9, six days after the World T20 final, and finish on May 26 with the final at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

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Smith inventing a new shot last season // BCCI