IPL: Year-wise best signing in the auctions

2009 edition – JP Duminy, Mumbai Indians (INR 4.56 Crore)

The Mumbai Indians had suffered a bad fate in the tournament’s first edition and to change the outcomes a bit, they went all out on certain T20 specialists that were available in the 2009 auction. They splashed INR 4.56 crore to buy JP Duminy, who wasn’t merely a format specialist and a talented all-rounder, but also a South African local.

With the Safari lands hosting the tournament, Duminy made merry of the playing conditions and scored a lot of runs despite Mumbai not having a great season yet again. Duminy returned with an impressive tally of 372 runs in 13 innings at an average in excess of 40, playing nearly every game for the franchise.

Orange cap winner Matthew Hayden and JP Duminy also scored the joint-most half-centuries that edition, chipping in with five each. The southpaw made a huge impression on the franchise and remained with them for another season, before making a move to Deccan Chargers in 2011.