London, Feb 7 : English all rounder Ravi Bopara was happy to be picked by an Indian Premier League team to play this year, but was a bit surprised to fetch 450,000 dollars in the IPL players auction.

The Kings XI Punjab bought the Essex all-rounder for 450,000 dollars in the player auction on Friday.

And after seeing England teammates Samit Patel and Luke Wright failed to get any interest, Bopara admits he was simply relieved to get picked at all.

"I was so keen to play in it last year. But it wasn't to be. I'm just so excited to be in it this year, I'd have been happy to go for 150,000 dollars. But 450,000 dollars surprised me a bit and I'm not complaining," The Sun quoted Bopara, as saying.

"It's good news. I don't want to concentrate on the price so much. I'm just delighted to be involved. I sat and watched the auction and as soon as someone put their finger up and said `we'll have him for 150,000 dollars I was happy," he said.

"There was a bit of a bidding war and I was quite nervous which was weird. Everybody is keen to get involved in the IPL because it is jazzed up and you are playing against and alongside the best players in the world," Bopara added. (ANI)