The IPL offered four tickets in the chairman’s box to the final match of the 2009 IPL season t a Charity Auction Gala.

The auction was held at the The Dorchester Hotel in London to raise money for Magic Bus, a Mumbai-based charity.

The IPL's popularity reflected from the fact that the tickets received ardent bidding. A loyal Magic Bus supporter bid USD 22,217 for the package, raising USD 11,108 more than any other auction.

paintings by Indian artists and a beautiful diamond necklace and earring set.

A Magic Bus spokesman said, "Lalit Modi very kindly offered us 4 tickets to the Indian Premier League Final for 2009 to help MAGIC BUS raise money at the Gala. The tickets to the Grand IPL Finale on May 24th 2009 included a personal invitation from the Chairman and Commissioner of the IPL for the Winning Bidder and three friends to some five star treatment with first class seats in the Chairman's Box (these seats are not available to the general public) and an opportunity to meet the players. The tickets also included stay for the winning bidder in the same Five Star Hotel as the Teams and tickets to both the Gala Closing dinner on May 23rd and the IPL Final after party on May 24th."

The Honorable Nisha Paul, Chair of the Gala said, "It is very fitting that a sporting prize has raised money for a sport for development charity. The IPL tickets were an incredible prize and were much appreciated -- they helped us to raise money for children living in poverty that need it the most."

Magic Bus founded in Mumbai in 1999 has worked with Mumbai's slum children, street children, children of sex workers, remand centre children, bonded labourers, children on construction sites, runaways and orphans.