Starc and Cummins smash records at IPL auction
Australian fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins became the most expensive players in Indian Premier League history yesterday, with franchises dishing out millions of dollars for their services at the glitzy Twenty20 tournament.
Starc, who last played in the IPL eight years ago, made a smashing comeback when he was snapped up by Kolkata Knight Riders for US$2.98 million, setting an all-time IPL auction record.
The franchise said on X, formerly Twitter: “We won, Mr Starc.”
Starc, 33, broke the record set by Cummins earlier when Sunrisers Hyderabad paid US$2.47 million for the World Cup-winning skipper.
Before yesterday, England allrounder Sam Curran was the most expensive player after being bought for US$2.23 million by Punjab Kings last year.
“Pumped to be joining SRH for the upcoming IPL season,” Cummins, who skipped this year’s IPL because of a packed calendar, said in a video posted by the franchise on social media.
“I have played in Hyderabad a few times and always loved it, so can’t wait to get started.”
Hyderabad beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in a fervent bidding session for Cummins, to claps and cheers from other franchises taking part in the auction, held this year in Dubai.
Both Australians were key to the Australia side winning the ODI World Cup last month, beating hosts India in the final at Ahmedabad.
Cummins had silenced a crowd of nearly 100,000 when he bowled out star batter Virat Kohli, and was widely lauded for leading Australia to the title.
The 30-year-old made a previous auction record of US$2.17 million when he signed with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2019.
Both Starc and Cummins had entered this auction with a base price of US$240,000, the top tier at which players can start the bidding for their services.
New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell was the third-top player at the auction, grabbed by Chennai Super Kings for US$1.6 million.
Mitchell, 32, was also one of the breakout stars at the World Cup, scoring two centuries against India – in the group stage and in the semi-final.
Chennai coach Stephen Fleming said Mitchell’s performances over the last 18 to 24 months had “warranted this type of a price”.
“He is an unfashionable player, often goes under the radar. With his ability to play spin he is competitive and he is also a handy bowler.”
West Indies star Rovman Powell went to Rajasthan Royals for US$890,000 and Australia’s Travis Head will play alongside Cummins for Hyderabad after being sold for US$818,000.
South African paceman Gerald Coetzee was sold to Mumbai Indians for US$602,000. But the promising New Zealand allrounder Rachin Ravindra failed to arouse much interest, with Chennai paying an underwhelming US$216,000 for his services.
Australia’s Steve Smith and Josh Inglis went unsold.
I have played in Hyderabad a few times and always loved it, so can’t wait to get started PAT CUMMINS, ON JOINING SUNRISERS