MUMBAI: Virender Sehwag has stepped down as captain of IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils.

The new captain will be Mahela Jayawardene, who will lead the team in next month‘s Champions League T20 which will take place in South Africa.

Sehwag has said that he wants to focus on his batting. "After leading Delhi Daredevils in four of the five IPL editions, Virender Sehwag has sought to step down from the skipper‘s post. The new captain will be Mahela Jayawardene, who will lead the team in next month‘s Champions League T20." the Delhi Daredevils said on their site.

MUMBAI: Delhi Daredevils has named the vastly-experienced Mahela Jayawardene, who led Sri Lanka to the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, as its vice-captain this season.

Making this announcement, Delhi Daredevils? Team Mentor TA Sekar said today that it was an easy decision to make. ?He has an excellent track record as a leader of men and draws enormous respect from his team-mates. We are aware of the immense value that Mahela brings to the table and are sure that the team will benefit from his presence in the leadershi p team.?

Sekar said skipper Virender Sehwag had welcomed Jayawardene?s choice as vice-captain. ?Viru told us that he would find Mahela?s experience as a leader very handy. We are confident that they will bring the best out of the squad this season. That will enable us stay competitive through the season ? and have the chance to celebrate Mahela?s 35th birthday on 27 May,? he said.

Delhi Daredevils successfully bid for Jayawardene at the IPL Player Auction on 4 February. He has led Sri Lanka in 11 T20 internationals, 102 one-day internationals and 28 Test matches. Of these, Sri Lanka won eight T20 internationals, 59 one-day internationals ? with the showing in the 2007 World Cup being one of the high points ? and 15 Test matches.

MUMBAI: Top players from expelled Kochi Tuskers Kerala dominated the proceedings at the IPL players auction on Saturday in Bangalore.

Ravindra Jadeja, who has time and again proved his worth as allrounder, was the most sought after player with Chennai Super Kings eventually buying the youngster following a tie-breaker with Deccan Chargers. Jadeja had a base price of $100,000.

Both the franchises had bid $2 million before the tie-breaker was enforced to decide who will get the player. In the tie-breaker, both teams enter the bid amount in a secret ballot following which the team with highest bid gets the player. The final amount Jadeja got was not disclosed.

Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene was secured by Delhi Daredevils for $1.4 million on a base price of $300,000. Swashbuckling New Zealand batsmen Brendon McCullum was bought by his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders for $900,000.

Both Jayawardene and McCullum were part of KTK for season four of the tournament.

R Vinay Kumar, another KTK players, too went back to his previous franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore after the team team bid $1 million to secure his services.

RP Singh and S Sreesanth were bought by Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals for $600,000 and $400,000 respectively. While Singh $400,000 went for more than his base price, Sreesanth was sold for his base price.

Indian players who remained unsold were middle-order veteran VVS Laxman and Punjab medium pacer VRV Singh.

Three South African players found their way into the IPL teams. Herschelle Gibbs went to Mumbai Indians for $50,000, while spinner Robin Pietersen and pace bowler Marchant de Lange were taken by Mumbai Indians and KKR respectively.

Marchant who had made a sensational test debut for SA landed his first IPL contract.

Australia?s Bard Hodge was bought by Rajasthan Royals for $475,000, while Mitchell Johnson went for Mumbai Indians for his base price of $300,000. Australian spinner Brad Hogg went to Royals and his compatriot James Faulkner was snapped up by Kings XI Punjab.

Indian wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel will don Deccan Chargers jersey, while spinner Ramesh Pawar will be back to his previous franchise Kings XI Punjab.

Spin sensation Muttiah Muralitharan will now play for Royal Challengers Bangalore after being bought by them for $220,000. His compatriot Thisara Perera struck big with Mumbai Indians finally managing to have him for $650,000.

West Indies players were also in demand at the auction as several of them managed an IPL contract. Spinner Sunil Narine was bought by KKR, keeper Dinesh Chandimal went to Royals, all-rounder Andre Russell was grabbed by the Delhi Daredevils and pacer Kevon Cooper was snapped up by Mumbai Indians.

In all, 25 players from across the world were bought by the franchises, with MI and RR bidding successfully for five players each. DD, KKR, KXIP and DC snapped up three players each while RCB took two.

Former Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood became the only player from that country to play in IPL 2012 after Kings XI Punjab bought him for $200,000.

CSK used their entire purse of $2 million in their successful bid for Jadeja.