Muttiah Muralitharan will play for Chennai in the inaugural Indian Premier League after their franchise paid $600,000 for the record-breaking off-spinner’s services.

Murali, whose wife derives from the Tamil Nadu area of Chennai, would not have chosen any other team to play for given his now extended family’s proximity to the Chennai ground.

The Sri Lankan bowler will no doubt be a tough customer to take runs from in the so-called ‘hit-and-giggle’ Twenty20 format, which is why Chennai were willing to pay so highly for him.

His long-time adversary and spin bowling contemporary Shane Warne sold to Jaipur for $450,000, which may put a wry smile on Murali’s face.

Murali will line up along side other world stars such as Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni – the most expensive player at the auction at $1.5 million as well as Matthew Hayden, Stephen Fleming, Jacob Oram and South African all-rounder Albie Morkel, bought for $650,000.