NEWS
Follow UsMoments after Australia captain Pat Cummins became the most expensive Indian Premier League (IPL) player ever, his bowling partner Mitchell Starc broke his record to fetch a sum of INR 24.75 crore. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured the Australian captain's services for a whooping INR 20.5 crore. They therefore become the first players to be bought for over 20 crore in an IPL auction.
Previously Sam Curran was the highest-bid player in the auction, with Punjab Kings (PBKS) securing his services for INR 18.50 crore in the last auction fending off competition from Chennai, Lucknow, Mumbai, Bangalore and Rajasthan.
Cummins, who has previously turned up for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had set a base price of INR 2 crore with Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) initially involved in a bidding war with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) joining the race at INR 5 crore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) coming in at INR 8.4 crore.
Starc, too too had a base price of INR 2 crore with DC and MI setting off with the initial bids, before KKR and GT joined the race at INR 9.8 crore and 10 crore, respectively. From there, it was only the two teams going toe-to-toe, with eventually KKR getting the left-arm pacer's services for INR 24.75 crore. Starc last played in the IPL in 2015 when he turned up for RCB.
With the purchase of Cummins, SRH have now filled their quota of eight overseas players. Earlier in the auction, SRH also got Travis Head for INR 6.8 crore and Wanindu Hasaranga for his base price of INR 1.5 crore. KKR, on the other end, can rope in three more players.
Cummins has played 42 matches in the IPL, picking up 45 wickets at an economy rate of 8.54. Starc, on the other hand, has picked up 34 wickets in 27 matches, conceding 7.17 an over.
Most expensive buys in IPL history - Top six
Mitchell Starc (KKR): INR 24.75 crore
Pat Cummins (SRH): INR 20.5 crore
Sam Curran (PBKS): INR 18.5 crore
Cameron Green (MI): 17.5 crore
Ben Stokes (CSK): 16.25 crore
Chris Morris (RR): 16.25 crore
