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In a groundbreaking moment at the IPL 2024 auction, Australian all-rounder Pat Cummins made history by becoming the highest-priced player ever, securing a staggering deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 20.50 crore (US$2,470,000 approx.). This record-breaking bid surpassed the previous high of INR 18.50 crore, held by England’s Sam Curran in the 2023 auction.
Pat Cummins, entering the auction with a base price of INR 2 crore, ignited a fierce bidding war between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. As the stakes rose, CSK and Royal Challengers Bangalore engaged in a spirited battle, with the final showdown for Cummins unfolding between RCB and SRH. Notably, Cummins had opted out of the 2023 IPL to focus on international commitments, with his last auction price standing at INR 15.50 crore when Kolkata Knight Riders acquired him in 2020.
Expressing his excitement after the auction, Pat Cummins stated, “Pumped to be joining SRH for the upcoming IPL season. I’ve heard a lot about the Orange Army, 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, attributed the substantial investment in Pat Cummins to a well-rounded team. “Someone else desperately wanted him as well, that’s why he got pushed to that high number,” Vettori explained. “Because our team is relatively settled, and we have the budget, and we have already picked up Travis Head and Hasaranga, we felt like we’d covered most things that we wanted at the auction, so we could spend that much.”
After Pat Cummins, Surprises and Strategic Moves
After Pat Cummins deal Daryl Mitchell from New Zealand and Rovman Powell, West Indies T20I captain, emerged as significant early buys in the IPL 2024 auction. Powell secured a hefty INR 7.4 crore deal with Rajasthan Royals, while Mitchell, after intense bidding involving Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Chennai Super Kings, was eventually picked up by CSK for INR 14 crore.
CSK further strengthened their squad with acquisitions like Rachin Ravindra (INR 1.8 crore) and the return of Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur (INR 4 crore). Meanwhile, Royals engaged in a bidding war for England’s Harry Brook, who found a new home with Delhi Capitals for INR 4 crore.
Noteworthy Indian Players
Harshal Patel, the fast bowler, emerged as the most expensive Indian player in the IPL 2024 auction, fetching a substantial INR 11.75 crore bid from Punjab Kings. Additionally, Chris Woakes joined Punjab’s lineup with a deal worth INR 4.2 crore.
Amidst high-profile buys, several teams secured valuable players at their base prices. Sunrisers acquired Sri Lankan leg-spinning all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga at INR 1.5 crore, a strategic replacement for Adil Rashid. Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai, with an impressive ODI World Cup, joined Gujarat Titans at his base price of INR 50 lakh.
Mumbai Indians made a notable purchase in Gerald Coetzee, South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup, securing him for INR 5 crore.
Teams and Unsold Players
As the auction progressed, KKR, LSG, and RCB were yet to make purchases, while notable players like Steven Smith, Rilee Rossouw, Manish Pandey, and Karun Nair remained unsold in the initial rounds.
The IPL 2024 auction promises an exciting mix of talent, strategic acquisitions, and unprecedented bidding wars, setting the stage for a riveting cricket season ahead.