( CNN ) -- Gautam Gambhir became the most expensive signing in world cricket on a record-breaking first day of the Indian Premier League auctions . The Kolkata Knights Riders paid $ 2.4 million to secure the rights of the India international batsman on Saturday , and then stumped up $ 2.1 million to buy Yusuf Pathan for the next two years of the lucrative Twenty20 limited-overs competition . New franchise Sahara Pune Warriors matched that sum with the signing of another Indian star , Robin Uthappa , while Mumbai Indians put up $ 2 million for Rohit Sharma . Pathan 's half-brother Irfan was sold to Delhi Daredevils for $ 1.9 million , while Pune also paid $ 1.8 million for one-day specialist Yuvraj Singh . The most expensive non-Indian player was Sri Lanka 's Mahela Jayawardene , who went to another new franchise , Kochi , for $ 1.5 million . Australia 's David Hussey was bought for $ 1.4 million by Kings XI Punjab . See the full list of successful bids . Kolkata also signed veteran South Africa batsman Jacques Kallis for $ 1.2 million , while Royal Challengers Bangalore bid $ 1.1 million for his compatriot A.B . de Villiers -- a fee matched by Deccan Chargers for Australia 's Cameron White . The auction concluded on Sunday , with 350 of the world 's top players having gone under the hammer . Franchise owners include Bollywood stars Shilpa Shetty and Preity Zinta . Notably absent was tournament founder Lalit Modi , who has been ousted from his position as chairman by the Indian cricket board amid allegations of corruption . Will Australia 's one-day cricket reign end in 2011 ? Only 12 players were retained from last year 's competition , with Mumbai keeping Sachin Tendulkar , Harbhajan Singh , Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga . India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will stay with defending champions Chennai Super Kings , while Rajasthan have kept Australia 's Shane Warne and Shane Watson , and Virender Sehwag remains at Delhi . Kings XI Punjab , Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders completely emptied their playing rosters . The 2011 tournament will run from April 8 to May 22 following the 50-over World Cup in India , Sri Lanka and Bangladesh .
Kolkata Knights Riders pay a record $ 2.4 million to secure the signing of Robin Singh . Raiders then bid $ 2.1 million to buy Yusuf Pathan for next two years of Twenty20 competition . New franchise Sahara Pune Warriors paid that price with the signing of Uthappa . They past $ 2 million for first time as Mumbai Indians paid that for Rohit Sharma .