Dhoni sold to Chennai Super Kings: IPL's first auctioneer Richard Madley pulls one from the memory vault

CSK had, at the time, rolled out a mindboggling US$1.5 million, to grab India's World Twenty20-winning captain.

Back then, only two teams were in the fray by the time the bids crossed the US$900,000 mark: Chennai and Mumbai, the IPL 2019 finalists and the two most successful sides in the history of the tournament.

Richard Madley, who oversaw the Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions in 2008, on Sunday shared a snapshot of his auction gavel and first pen to paper marking of M.S. Dhoni being sold to the Chennai Super Kings.

The franchise had, at the time, rolled out a mindboggling US$1.5 million, to grab India's World Twenty20-winning captain.

Just found my one and only auction sheet for the historic first ever #VIVOIPL auction in 2008.@msdhoni sold to @ChennaiIPL A rare piece of cricket memorabilia
Will be watching #CSKvMI on @hotstarUK#CricketMeriJaan#WhistlePodu#VIVOIPLFinalpic.twitter.com/5M5qY2tPy5

— Richard Madley (@iplauctioneer) May 12, 2019

 

Back then, only two teams were in the fray by the time the bids crossed the US$900,000 mark: Chennai and Mumbai, the IPL 2019 finalists and the two most successful sides in the history of the tournament. But eventually it was CSK which came out on top.

FOLLOW| MI vs CSK, IPL final Live Score

Madley, who had conducted the IPL auctions for the last 11 years, was "hurt" with the way he was ignored for last year's event.  “I confirmed my availability and all I got was a two-line email saying, ‘Your services are not required. We have chosen a replacement auctioneer.’ There was no explanation. I wonder what did I do wrong? What was my fault? I have maintained transparency and I expect the same treatment from them?”, Madley had told this publication.