Dhoni pips Sachin as 'most valuable' IPL player

Sachin Tendulkar may have just been immortalised in wax by Madame Tussauds of London, but Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni has beaten him to be the most valuable player in this year’s edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) that begins in South Africa on Saturday. 

The Chennai Super Kings’ skipper attracted the highest individual insurance cover of $10.5 million, or Rs 52 crore, as the eight IPL team owners finalised policies for all 120 auctioned players against personal accidents, mediclaim and baggage losses with Oriental Insurance Company (OIC) for a total cover of $286 million, or Rs 1,340 crore, an OIC official said. 

The team franchisees have also taken additional cover for match cancellations, at an average of Rs 7 crore per match, totalling a sum assured of Rs 413 crore, said the OIC official who requested anonymity. 

He, however, refused to reveal the premium for the policies that provide a total cover of more than Rs 1,750 crore. Oriental Insurance structured the entire cover along with its re-insurers. Six franchisees have already paid the premium, said the official.