Australian gun fast bowler Pat Cummins’ record of being the most expensive player (INR 20.50 crores) in IPL history stood for a less than couple of hours as his compatriot Mitchell Starc was roped in for a whopping amount of INR 24.75 crores by Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024 auction in Dubai on Tuesday.
KKR was involved in a bidding war with Gujarat Titans but the former were able to grab the left-arm seamer.
Starc entered the IPL 2024 auction at a base price of INR 2 crores after last playing in the tournament in 2015 for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Meanwhile, Starc picked 16 wickets in 10 matches of the ODI World Cup and played a key role in taking Australia to glory for the sixth time. Starc has scalped 34 wickets in 27 IPL matches at an average of 20.38 and an economy rate of 7.17.
Earlier in the auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad grabbed Pat Cummins for a huge amount of INR 20.50 crores. Cummins took 15 wickets in 11 matches of the ODI World Cup 2023. Thus, he played a key role in taking Australia to glory for the sixth time.
Meanwhile, among other expensive buys, New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell was roped in for INR 14 crores by defending champions Chennai Super Kings.
Harshal Patel was bagged for INR 11.75 crores by Punjab Kings whereas Royal Challengers Bangalore spent a total of INR 11.50 crores for Alzarri Joseph.
Dilshan Madushanka was taken by Mumbai Indians for INR 4.60 crores whereas Shivam Mavi was grabbed by Lucknow Super Giant for INR 6.40 crores. Veteran Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav was bagged for INR 5.80 crores by Gujarat Titans.
