IPL Auction 2018: Rajasthan Royals signed England all-rounder Ben Stokes for £1.4m

IPL Auction 2018: Rajasthan Royals signed England all-rounder Ben Stokes for £1.4m 

 (He is) a fantastic performer, a cricketer of today and a cricketer of the future."

The IPL will allow the Royals to seek a replacement for Stokes, the 2017 tournament's most valuable player, should he be unavailable for the duration of the tournament but if he misses only part of the competition no replacement will be sanctioned.

Rajasthan's chief executive Ranjit Barthakur took to Facebook to welcome the England all-rounder, saying: "Ben Stokes is just our kind of guy.

Jos Buttler, who hit his first ODI century against Australia to seal a series victory for England earlier this month, will join Stokes at the Royals after being acquired for just under £490,000.

England Test captain Joe Root, who entered the auction for the first time after being rested from the upcoming tri-series in Australia and New Zealand, and wicketkeepers Jonny Bairstow and Sam Billings all went unsold in the first round of bidding.

Elsewhere, all-rounder Chris Woakes (£821,500) and Moeen Ali (£188,700) were obtained by Royal Challengers Bangalore while white-ball opener Jason Roy was obtained by Delhi Daredevils for £166,500.

Sussex bowler Jofra Archer, who has been making headlines in Australia's Big Bash League and will become eligible to play for England in 2022, will be alongside Stokes and Buttler after becoming a million dollar buy as the Royals splashed out $1.125m (£793,200).

Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, 19, was bought for just under £1m by Sunrisers Hyderabad after they used the right to match card following a bidding war between Delhi, RCB and Kings XI Punjab.

Source: skysports.com