(Conversion rates as follows: USD 1 = INR 73 approx; INR 50 lakh = USD 68,000 approx; INR 1 crore = USD 137,000 approx; INR 10 crore = USD 1,370,000 approx)

Glenn Maxwell, the Australia allrounder, became the first million-dollar signing of the 2021 IPL auction, being snapped up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 14.25 crore ($1.95 million). Bidding for Maxwell began at his base price Rs 2 crore and quickly spiralled, with Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders also fighting for his signature.

The Knight Riders and Royals began the initial tussle, before the Royal Challengers swooped in with an offer of Rs 4 crore. Soon, the Super Kings also threw their bid into the hat, going as far as Rs 14 crore before bowing out. Maxwell had spent seven seasons with the Punjab Kings, scoring 1383 runs at a strike rate of 157.69, and helped the team reach the final in 2014.

The Royal Challengers also came close to bagging Maxwell's Australian team-mate Steven Smith at his base price of Rs 2 crore, but were eventually beaten out by Delhi Capitals, who signed him for Rs 2.2 crore.

Having missed out on Maxwell, the Super Kings did eventually manage to get another allrounder, fighting off bids from Punjab Kings to land England's Moeen Ali for Rs 7 crore.