Eight franchises, 514 players, an individual budget of 600 million Rupees and two days in which to create a squad to challenge for the Indian Premier League. 

Over the course of the auction, players from across the world were snapped up by sides at high value, while uncapped players at lower values offered good quality in depth. Five individuals, however, commanded fees in excess of $1 million.

Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh was Royal Challengers Bangalore's marquee signing, and the tournament's most expensive pick at $2,333,000. The 32-year-old has been a mainstay in India's national side, and his record speaks for itself, scoring more than 30,000 runs in both international and domestic cricket, as well as taking 388 wickets with his slow left-arm bowling.

The second highest fee did not belong to a headline-grabbing Ashes winner, or a player renowned for their Twenty 20 prowess over many years, Dinesh Karthik has impressed for India as a wicket-keeping batsman. The Delhi Daredevils' most expensive player at $2,083,000, Karthik has played 149 T20 matches, scoring 2,827 runs and taking 86 catches. Coach Gary Kirsten has earmarked Karthik for captaincy ahead of the tournament's start in April.

Kevin Pietersen was the only English player to be picked up in the auction, his pedigree and increased availability due to his changed situation with England brought about a predictably bidding war. Delhi Daredevils, the team who chose not to retain him or any other player ahead of the auction, will be pleased to see Pietersen turn out for their side for the duration of the tournament.

Naturally, when Mitchell Johnson's name was mentioned, there was a clamour of franchises keen to recruit a man very much at the top of his game. On the back of a defining winter, Kings XI Punjab invested $1,083,000 in Johnson, hoping that the fireworks that blew away England will be brought to the IPL.

Glenn Maxwell become Kings XI Punjab's second millionaire - attracting $1,000,000 exactly. In a side boasting Australian talent - George Bailey and Shaun Marsh two more additions to a squad with Mitchell Johnson at the fore, their investment in high-quality players in good form could see them reap rewards.

The excitement of Twenty 20 cricket returns to the UK in May with the launch of the Natwest T20 Blast. Don't miss what promises to be one of the spectacles of the summer and secure your seats now.