In a historic moment at the IPL 2024 mini-auction, Australian cricket star Pat Cummins shattered records by becoming the most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The auction, held on Tuesday, December 19 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, saw Cummins being sold to Sunrisers Hyderabad for a staggering sum of INR 20.50 Crore.
This monumental bid for Cummins surpassed the previous record set by England all-rounder Sam Curran, who was acquired by Punjab Kings for INR 18.5 Crore during the IPL 2023 mini-auction.
The bidding war for Cummins began with a base price of INR 2 Crore, attracting interest from multiple franchises, including Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, as the bids escalated, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians eventually withdrew from the bidding process, leaving Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad in contention.
Ultimately, it was Sunrisers Hyderabad who secured Cummins’ services for INR 20.50 Crore, with Royal Challengers Bangalore opting out of the bidding with a remaining purse amount of INR 23.25 Crore.
The significant sum earned by Cummins in this deal reflects his exceptional performance in international cricket, where he played a pivotal role in Australia’s victories in the World Test Championship 2023 and the ODI World Cup 2023. Under his captaincy, Australia also retained the Ashes in England for the second consecutive time, with the series ending in a 2-2 draw.
With this record-breaking bid, Cummins stands to earn an impressive INR 6.1 Lakh for every ball he bowls if he participates in every game during the IPL 2024 season. Previously representing Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, Cummins has showcased his all-round abilities by taking 45 wickets in 42 matches at an average of 30.16 and an economy rate of 8.54. Additionally, he has scored 379 runs in his IPL career at a strike rate of 152.21, including three half-centuries.
Cummins’ addition to the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad is expected to bolster their lineup, especially after the team’s struggles following the departure of David Warner after a disappointing 2021 season.
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