Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins had a big pay day at the IPL 2024 auction, fetching the biggest bids in the league’s history.
While Starc became the highest-priced player in IPL history, Cummins secured a mega deal of his own.
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Mitchell Starc and a memorable return at IPL 2024 auction
Starc, fresh of a title win at the Cricket World Cup with Australia, was left astonished as he clinched the title of the most expensive player in IPL auction history.
In a bidding war that lasted nearly an hour, Starc's price soared to an eye-popping INR 24.75 crore, eclipsing the record set by Pat Cummins at INR 20.50 crore just hours before.
Secured by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Starc returns to the IPL after a huge gap and set the auction on fire.
In a candid conversation with Jio Cinema, Starc expressed his shock and awe, saying, “It was a shock, of course. Nothing I could ever have dreamt of.”
This jaw-dropping bid undoubtedly comes with its fair share of pressure, but Starc remains optimistic.
Drawing on his past IPL experience, he hopes to justify the enormous price tag. He added, “But having that extra experience I have my last IPL, hopefully helps. I've had a few ups and downs, but this comes with the territory, and I try to be successful and have as much impact as possible.”
Starc, who last participated in the IPL back in 2015 with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, is poised to make a triumphant return to the lucrative tournament.
With an impressive track record of 34 wickets in 27 matches, he is ready to contribute to the Kolkata Knight Riders' quest for their third IPL trophy.
Pat Cummins and a record-breaking deal
Before Starc's record-breaking bid, it was Pat Cummins who held the title of the most expensive player in IPL history. The World Cup-winning captain was picked by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for a staggering INR 20.5 crore at the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai.
Cummins, known for his outstanding performances on the international stage and leadership has had a stellar 2023 and caped it off in style at the auction.
He reacted to his mega deal by expressing his excitement about joining SRH.
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 PAT 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 🧡
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) December 19, 2023
Welcome, Cummins! 🫡#HereWeGOrange pic.twitter.com/qSLh5nDbLM
In a video posted by the franchise, he said, “Pumped to be joining SRH for the upcoming IPL season. I have heard a lot about the orange army, I have played at Hyderabad a few times.
“I can’t wait to get started. Great to see another Aussie in Travis Head over there. I think we will have a lot of fun this season and hope for plenty of success.”
Cummins, who skipped IPL 2023 due to a packed international schedule, arrived at the auction with a base price of INR 2 crore. SRH's successful bid for Cummins, along with the acquisitions of Travis Head and Wanindu Hasaranga, marked a significant step towards strengthening their squad.
The franchise is clearly aiming for IPL glory, and Cummins' inclusion may see him taking on a leadership role, given his experience as an ODI World Cup and World Test Championship-winning captain.
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The IPL 2024 auction has rewritten the record books with Starc and Cummins securing monumental deals.
Starc's awe-inspiring bid and Cummins' historic price tag set the stage for an exhilarating season ahead. The mini-auction saw inflated prices for several players, but the Aussie pace bowling duo twill be the happiest after their big paychecks.
