PBL 2018-19 auctions: Saina, Sindhu, Marin, Srikanth get Rs 8 million each

A ninth team, Pune7 Aces, has been added this year and is co-owned by actor Taapsee Pannu. Marin will be playing for her team.

P V Sindhu, Saina Nehwal and world champion Carolina Marin were the top buys at the Premier Badminton League (PBL 2018-19) season four auction, fetching the maximum price of Rs 8 million in New Delhi on Monday. The most unexpected buy was the rising doubles star Satwiksairaj Rankireddy who was the highest paid non-Icon Indian player with Rs 5.2 million.

With all players returning to the auction pool for the first time since 2015 and no Right to Match (RTM) card at teams' disposal, the exercise gained more significance with franchisees looking to get the combination right besides their ideal Icon player.

Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto was