Goa, February 6:

England’s Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff joined the Indian Premier League as its most expensive players after being sold for $1.55 million each today.

Pietersen was bought by liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s Bangalore Royal Challengers at a televised auction in this popular holiday resort, while Flintoff went for the same price to Chennai Super Kings.

Both players broke the existing record of India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was purchased by the Chennai franchise for $1.50 million last year. Pietersen and Flintoff will, however, receive only half their money as England players are available for just the first three weeks. Tournament rules stipulate that payments are made on a pro-rata basis for matches played.

“A player like Kevin is a great buy for us,” said Mallya, whose team finished seventh out of eight teams in the inaugural edition of the tournament last year. “He is one of the most explosive batsmen in the world and will bring a lot of class to our team.”

Indian cricket board secretary N Srinivasan, who owns the Chennai Super Kings, said he was delighted to have Flintoff on board. “Twenty20 cricket is a game for all-rounders and Flintoff is one of the best in the business,” said Srinivasan, whose team lost to Rajasthan Royals in last year’s final. The Royals, partly owned by Bollywood actress and British reality TV star Shilpa Shetty, picked up Aussie bowler Shaun Tait for $375,000.

Young South African Jean-Paul Duminy confirmed his rising stature in the sport when Sachin Tendulkar’s Mumbai Indians, owned by industralist Mukesh Ambani, bought him for a whopping $950,000. The second edition of the tournament, featuring the eight teams owned by tycoons, film stars and leading business houses, will be played across India in April-May.