Australia’s Ashes player of the series Mitchell Johnson has topped the million-dollar mark in Wednesday’s IPL player auction.

Kings XI Punjab have paid $1.15 million for the left-arm quick for the lucrative 2014 tournament, expected to be played in April.

David Warner was taken for $978,000 by Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he’ll be joined by Australian T20 opening partner Aaron Finch.

Mitchell Starc (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Australia T20 skipper George Bailey (Kings XI Punjab), Steve Smith (Rajasthan Royals) and BBL veteran Mike Hussey (Mumbai Indians) also pulled in big-money deals, while 39-year-old Aussie World T20 squad member Brad Hodge has gone for $426,000 to the Royals.

Kevin Pietersen’s concerns over his sacking by the England board may have been eased by his $1.6 million price tag paid by the Delhi Daredevils.

And former India Test batsman Yuvraj Singh was taken for $2.48 million by Royal Challengers Bangalore.