Curran reaps fruits of his labours with £800k deal
SAM CURRAN hit the jackpot in Jaipur yesterday after landing the biggest overseas contract for next season’s Indian Premier League.
The 20-year-old, in his first IPL auction, was signed by Kings XI Punjab for £800,000 after they beat off Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore for his services in the glitziest cricket show on earth.
Curran has yet to play a single T20 game for England but it was his displays in the Test arena in his debut season – and his value as a left-arm bowler – which caught the eye of Kings XI, where he will play alongside Chris Gayle. He was England’s player of the series against India last summer and made valuable runs down the order in Sri Lanka this winter. “What a year,” tweeted Curran last night. With the all-rounder only an outside bet to make England’s ODI squad for the World Cup, Curran was able to cash in on his likely availability for the whole IPL tournament next year.
With the IPL starting in late March and running until May 19, Surrey are the losers from Curran’s capture. His time in India covers two championship matches and eight Royal London One-Day Cup games.
Jonny Bairstow, who will be available for IPL action only until April 25 because of England one-day commitments, was snapped up for £240,000 by Sunrisers Hyderabad. His England team-mates Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali were among the overseas players already retained before yesterday’s cash splash.
Joe Denly was last month bought for £110,000 by Kolkata Knight Riders, who had also signed Notts left-armer Harry Gurney for £85,000, while Rajasthan Royals recruited Lancashire batsman Liam Livingstone for £55,000.
Sussex’s Jofra Archer, who qualifies to play for England in January, was retained by Rajasthan.
Curran’s brother Tom did not put himself forward and will be playing for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash, which starts in Australia today.
Ten Englishmen are involved Down Under, including Test captain Joe Root, who lines up for rivals Sydney Thunder as he attempts to prove he is worthy of a place in England’s T20 side.
Australian batsman Cameron Bancroft, banned after the sandpaper scandal, is eligible to return on December 30 for Perth Scorchers.
Australia’s Test side won for the first time since the scandal yesterday, bowling India out for 140 to level the series at 1-1.