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England's Jos Buttler out ranks Kevin Pietersen in IPL auction

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Nasser Hussain and Nick Knight give their reaction to the news that Jos Buttler will playing in the IPL this year with the Mumbai Indians.

England's Jos Buttler will play for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League after being bought for £385,000 - commanding a higher price than former England talisman Kevin Pietersen.

The wicketkeeper-batsman, who has decided to play in the tournament after losing his Test spot to Jonny Bairstow, was the subject of a bidding war between Mumbai and the Kolkata Knight Riders in Saturday's auction.

The reigning champions stumped up the cash, meaning Buttler's first foray into the IPL will be based at the Wankhede Stadium.

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Mumbai Indians head coach Ricky Ponting believes the signing of Jos Buttler by his side is very good business.

The Mumbai Indians said on their Twitter feed: "Jos Buttler is under the hammer and we are in it. Welcome to our fortress Wankhede Stadium."

Buttler scored a 73-ball hundred for England in their first ODI against South Africa on Wednesday - his fourth in the 50-over format - before clubbing 48no from 28 balls in the second game on Saturday, including three successive sixes off spinner Imran Tahir.

Image: Pietersen in IPL action for the Delhi Dynamos in 2012

Buttler will be joined at the IPL in April and May by fellow England batsman Sam Billings, who was picked up for £30,000 by Delhi Daredevils, but England seamer Chris Jordan and Essex's new limited-overs captain Ravi Bopara failed to attract a bid.

England's white-ball captain Eoin Morgan will be travelling to India, though, because he was already under contract at Sunrisers Hyderabad.

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Pietersen was the first player sold as Rising Pune Supergiants paid £355,000 for his services. The travelling Twenty20 specialist joins the newly-formed side, returning for his fifth IPL season in all.

Australia's Shane Watson attracted the highest bid as Royal Challengers Bangalore paid more than £950,000 for him.

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