Watson is the best, says RCB director

What the owners and officials said:

Amrit Thomas, RCB director: Shane Watson was what we were looking for. We wanted an international all-rounder and he is the best in the business.

Rising Pune Supergiants CEO Raghu Iyer: We are happy with the two gentlemen we have bought — (Kevin) Pietersen and Ishant (Sharma).

IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla: The IPL as a stand-alone (product) is doing very well, IPL-9 will do better; it will grow further, it will go to many more countries. No leagues are any closer to the IPL and they cannot be a match to the IPL.

DD official T.A. Sekar: We feel that he (Chris Morris) is a very good bowler who can bat a bit. He has been in good form. He is a match-winner and can bowl upfront and at the death.

Akash Ambani, owner of MI: We knew Nathu Singh would go for a certain price. It’s how the auction goes as per our experience over the last eight years. Actually we had budgeted more for him. Happy to have him at this price.