Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh set a new record as he emerged as the costliest ever buy in the Indian Premier League by going for a whopping Rs16 crore to Delhi Daredevils while an unheralded K C Cariappa was a surprise pick in the eighth players' auction yesterday.

In a relatively low key auction, Yuvraj triggered an unexpected bidding war with four teams vying for the 33-year-old cricketer's services before Delhi clinched the deal for a record price.

That Yuvraj, who had been bought for Rs14 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore last year, went for such a big price came as a huge surprise given the fact that he is no longer in the Indian team.

A 20-year-old Cariappa, an off-spinner who has not even played a first-class match, was a stunning pick by the Kolkata Knight Riders. Cariappa was bought for Rs2.4 crore in what was perhaps the most shocking buy in an auction where veterans such as Kumar Sangakkara went unsold despite being brought back in the pool thrice.

Angelo Mathew (Rs7.5 crore to DD), Trent Boult (Rs3.8 crore to Sunrisers Hyderabad), Amit Mishra (Rs3.5 crore to DD) and Aaron Finch (Rs3.2 crore to Mumbai Indians).