Australian pace maestro Mitchell Starc has rewritten the IPL auction record books, securing a jaw-dropping deal with the Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping INR 24.75 crore (approximately US$2,982,000). This stellar acquisition surpassed the previous record held by Pat Cummins, Australia’s ODI World Cup-winning captain, who had garnered a winning bid of INR 20.50 crore (approximately US$2,470,000) from the Sunrisers Hyderabad just hours before at the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai.
Starc’s entry into the bidding fray occurred during the first set for fast bowlers, the fourth set of the day. Initially contested between the Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, the tussle for Starc swiftly escalated as Gujarat Titans and KKR, the only franchises with over INR 30 crore remaining in their purse, took control. Ultimately, it was the Kolkata Knight Riders who emerged victorious with the winning bid.
This marks a significant return to the IPL auction for Starc, whose last appearance was in 2018 when he was signed by KKR for INR 9.4 crore. Unfortunately, he missed that season due to injury, and remarkably, he hasn’t participated in the IPL since 2015.
Reflecting on his remarkable bid, Starc shared his sentiments with Jio Cinema, stating, “It’s obviously humbling to still, I guess, feel like I’m wanted or needed anyway. So hopefully, that experience that I’ve had for a few years now can translate into success in the lead-up to the IPL and contribute to the KKR squad.”
Prior to Mitchell Starc’s record-breaking bid, the Sunrisers Hyderabad had invested INR 20.50 crore (approximately US$2,470,000) to secure the services of Pat Cummins, fending off competition from the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Cummins’ acquisition came at a price that exceeded the previous record of INR 18.50 crore, which the Punjab Kings had paid for the England all-rounder Sam Curran at the 2023 IPL auction.
Cummins, the ODI World Cup-winning captain from Australia, had opted out of the 2023 IPL season to focus on international cricket. Notably, his latest auction price surpassed his previous highest bid of INR 15.50 crore, which was when the Kolkata Knight Riders signed him in 2020.
Pat Cummins Eager to Join SRH for IPL 2024
Expressing his enthusiasm after being acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for the upcoming IPL season, Pat Cummins stated, “Pumped to be joining SRH for the upcoming IPL season. I’ve heard a lot about the Orange Army, I’ve played at Hyderabad a few times and always loved it, so can’t wait to get started. Great to see another Aussie in Trav Head over there as well. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun this season, and hopefully, plenty of success.”
Sunrisers head coach Daniel Vettori shed light on the significant investment in Cummins, explaining, “Someone else desperately wanted him as well, that’s why he got pushed to that high number. Because our team is relatively settled, we have the budget, and we have already picked up Travis Head and [Wanindu] Hasaranga, we felt like we’d covered most things that we wanted at the auction, so we had the ability to spend that much.”
ODI World Cup Standouts Secure Lucrative IPL Deals
Several standout performers from the ODI World Cup reaped rewards in the IPL auction. Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra from New Zealand, Australia’s Travis Head, South Africa’s Gerald Coetzee, and Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka secured IPL deals based on their stellar performances.
Mitchell, in particular, drew intense bidding from Capitals, Punjab, and Chennai Super Kings before eventually being bought by CSK for INR 14 crore. Head, the Player of the Match in the ODI World Cup semi-final and final, joined SRH for INR 6.8 crore. Coetzee and Madushanka became Mumbai Indians’ first two buys at the auction, signing for a total of INR 9.6 crore.
Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai found a home at Titans, alongside Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad.
Uncapped Indian Talents Secure Impressive IPL Contracts
Emerging Indian talents made significant strides in the IPL auction. Top-order batter Sameer Rizvi, wicketkeeper Kumar Kushagra, and middle-order batter Shubham Dubey, highlighted as ESPNcricinfo’s picks for in-demand uncapped Indian players, secured lucrative IPL deals.
Rizvi earned INR 8.40 crore after CSK outbid Titans and Capitals, while Kushagra joined Capitals for INR 7.20 crore. Dubey, picked up by Royals for INR 5.8 crore, fetched the highest price for an uncapped batter with no IPL experience.
Surprise Big Buys and Steal Deals
The 2024 auction witnessed surprises, with West Indies T20 captain Rovman Powell fetching INR 7.4 crore from Rajasthan Royals. Alzarri Joseph, released by Titans, was signed by RCB for INR 11.50 crore.
Australian left-arm quick Spencer Johnson, entering the auction at a base price of INR 50 lakh, went for a whopping INR 10 crore to Titans. Sri Lankan Nuwan Thushara, bought by MI for INR 4.8 crore, added depth to their overseas fast-bowling options.
Capped Indian Players’ Performance
Fast bowler Harshal Patel emerged as the most expensive Indian player, securing a deal with Punjab for INR 11.75 crore. Shardul Thakur returned to CSK for INR 4 crore, while Umesh Yadav and Shivam Mavi garnered significant interest.
Sunrisers secured Wanindu Hasaranga at his base price of INR 1.5 crore, marking a steal deal for the leg-spinning all-rounder. Hasaranga had previously been sold for INR 10.75 crore to RCB in the 2022 auction.
Capitals Secure Harry Brook in INR 4 Crore Deal
Capitals made a strategic move in the IPL auction by signing England batter Harry Brook for INR 4 crore. Brook, previously acquired by Sunrisers for INR 13.25 crore the previous year, had been released after a less-than-impressive debut IPL season.
Unsold Players in the Capped Batters Set
Despite the high-stakes bidding, several notable players went unsold in the first set of capped batters. Australian batter Steven Smith and South African batter Rilee Rossouw, both with base prices set at INR 2 crore, failed to attract bids. The same fate befell Indian batters Manish Pandey and Karun Nair.
In a surprising turn, capped wicketkeepers and spinners faced low demand, with the likes of Phil Salt, Josh Inglis, Kusal Mendis, Akeal Hosein, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ish Sodhi, Adil Rashid, and Tabraiz Shamsi all remaining unsold in the auction.