Star Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has now become the most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for ₹24.75 crore in the ongoing IPL 2024 auction at the Coco-Cola Arena in Dubai. KKR defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) in a bidding war to acquire the services of the Australian fast bowler. On the other hand, Pat Cummins, who led Australia to their sixth ODI World Cup title this year became the second-most expensive buy as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) acquired his services for ₹20.50 crore.
Starc has been in great form in great form in 2023 and played a crucial role in Australia’s World Cup triumph this year. He appeared in the ongoing auction at the base price of ₹2 Crore, and Delhi Capitals (DC) were the first team to start bidding for him with Mumbai Indians (MI) coming to counter. Both teams left the bid at ₹9.60 crore after KKR and GT started to counter each other in the bidding war. Both KKR and GT kept bidding for Starc and the price went beyond shattered all records in the history of IPL auction. GT finally left the bid at ₹24.75 crore and KKR got the most expensive buy in the IPL history.
It has been a sensational year for Cummins as he recently led Australia to a record sixth World Cup triumph as they defeated the hosts India by 6 wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 10th November. In his captaincy, Australia also clinched the World Test Championship title earlier this year in June by defeating India in the final and went on to retain the Ashes against England. His previous highest bid was in the IPL 2020 auction when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bought him for ₹15.25 crore.
Cummins appeared in the ongoing auction at the base price of ₹2 Crore, and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were the first team to start bidding for him with Mumbai Indians (MI) coming to counter. MI stopped the bidding at ₹4.60 Crore and RCB started a bidding war against CSK. The defending champions also put their hands down at the price of ₹7.60 Crore and SRH joined RCB in the bidding war.
Both RCB and SRH kept bidding for Cummins and it was SRH who finally won the bidding war at ₹20.50 Crore to make him the most expensive buy in the IPL history. Now Cummins will be seen playing for SRH in the IPL 2024 and is also likely to become the captain of the franchise for the upcoming season.
