Starc becomes IPL’s most expensive player ever
Australia’s Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins set new records in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction on Tuesday night, as franchises splashed out millions for the world-class pacers.
Starc, who last played in the IPL in 2015, made a sensational comeback to the league as he was snapped up by Rajasthan Royals for a whopping A$4.83m (£2.56m), making him the most expensive player ever in the IPL.
The left-arm pacer, who was instrumental in Australia’s World Cup 2023 triumph, had a base price of A$394,000 (£209,000) and attracted bids from several teams before Rajasthan sealed the deal.
“I’m really excited to join the Royals and play in the IPL again. It’s a great opportunity to showcase my skills and learn from some of the best players in the world,” Starc said after the auction.
Cummins follows suit as Sunrisers break the bank.
The Australian captain and the world’s No. 1 Test bowler
The Australian captain and the world’s No. 1 Test bowler Cummins, was not far behind as he was bought by Delhi Capitals for A$4.43m (£2.35m), the second-highest bid in the IPL auction history.
Cummins, who also had a base price of A$394,000 (£209,000), was in high demand as he had impressed with his performances in the previous edition of the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders.
The duo of Starc and Cummins broke the previous record of A$4.93m (£2.61m), which was paid by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Yuvraj Singh in 2015. They also became the first overseas players to cross the A$4m (£2.12m) mark in the IPL auction.
“It’s an honour to be part of the Delhi Capitals and play alongside some of the legends of the game. I’m looking forward to contributing to the team’s success and giving my best for the fans,” Cummins said.
Other Aussies shine as IPL auction sees big spending
The IPL 2024 auction, which took place in Dubai on December 19, featured 333 players, out of which 77 were bought by the eight franchises. The auction also saw some other Australian players earn lucrative contracts, such as:
- Travis Head, who was snapped up by the Sunrisers for A$1.91m (£1.01m), after leading Australia to the ODI World Cup title last month.
- Nathan Lyon, who became the first spinner to take 500 Test wickets, and was bought by the Mumbai Indians for A$1.18m (£626,000).
- Harry Brook, who attracted the highest bid for an England player with the batsman signed by the Delhi Capitals for around A$747,000 (£396,000).
Some of the star players who went unsold during the auction were Steve Smith, Chris Gayle, Kane Williamson, and Ben Stokes.
The IPL 2024 is scheduled to start in April next year and will be played across six venues in India. The tournament will feature some of the best players in the world, who will showcase their skills and entertain the fans in the most popular T20 league in the world.
