TAUNTON-BORN star Jos Buttler has been snapped up for £485,000 by Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2018 IPL.
The auction, which is taking place across the weekend, also saw the Royals splash out £1.38m each on Buttler's England teammate Ben Stokes and Australian captain Steve Smith as they build a star-studded line-up.
The move means a change of team for Buttler, who has represented the Mumbai Indians for each of the past two campaigns.
Can’t wait to represent @rajasthanroyals in this years @IPL! Alongside @benstokes38 too!!! https://t.co/1d5JXya50y
— Jos Buttler (@josbuttler) January 27, 2018
The Royals won the very first IPL in 2008, but this is their first season back in the competition since being banned in 2015 - along with Chennai Super Kings - over a corruption and match-fixing scandal.
England skipper Joe Root went unsold in the first round of bidding - as did former Somerset man Chris Gayle - but Jason Roy (£165,000, Delhi Daredevils), Moeen Ali (£187,000, Royal Challengers Bangalore) and Chris Woakes (£820,000, Royal Challengers Bangalore) were all signed.
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