The auction of 67 players for the third season of the Indian Premier League got underway in Mumbai today.

With 12 spots up for grab in the 8 franchisees, Shahid Afridi was the first player to go under the hammer but none of the teams showed interest and the Pakistani all-rounder went unsold in the first round of bidding.

The bidders though upped the ante when the West Indian Kieron Pollard was on offer. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings matched each other till the end as both kept bidding for the player until they reached their price cap of $750,000. At this point Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders also joined for a 4 way tie.

At this IPL chairperson Lalit Modi announced the tie-breaker and all the 4 teams put in an undisclosed amount (in Indian currency). The bid in the end went in favour of Mumbai Indians.  After this Australian keeper Brad Haddin and English spinner Graeme Swann went unsold. South African pacer Wayne Parnell was then latched on by the Delhi Daredevils for a price of $610,000.