The IPL Auctions for the 2024 season saw intense bidding wars and whopping sums spent on players. It was an auction dominated by the Australian players after their terrific performance in the ODI World Cup. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Spencer Johnson, and Travis Head all got a hefty sum from the franchises, and history was created when Pat Cummins broke the 20-crore barrier as he got 20.50 crores from Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Mitchell Starc became the most expensive purchase in the history of IPL as he was bought for a whopping 24.75 crores by Kolkata Knight Riders. Meanwhile, Spencer Johnson was bought for 10 crores by Gujarat titans and Travis Head received 6.80 crores from Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Aussies completely dominated the IPL Auctions as they bagged a lot of riches. A total of 45.25 crore was spent on the pace duo of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc in the Auctions.
Former South African all-rounder Chris Morris has said that these huge bids also add some pressure on the player. Chris Morris was once the most expensive player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history when he was bought by Rajasthan Royals for 16.25 crores in 2021. He has hailed the record-breaking bid of Australian pacer Mitchell Starc by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the 2024 season, saying that it will add some pressure on him but the pacer will be able to justify it with his performances and experience.
“It is excellent. The bidding is out of our control. If you compare cricket with what other sports are paying, it is great that the best players in the world are being paid the highest. It is an excellent achievement but also brings additional pressure. But they (Cummins and Starc) can handle that pressure, that is why they were bought for so much money. They are performing really well right now and are red-hot,” said Morris to ANI.
Mitchell Starc Will Return To IPL After Nine Years
Mitchell Starc will make his return in India’s cash-rich T20 league after a long gap of nine years. He enlisted in the 2018 Auction and was bought by KKR for 9.8 crores but he sustained an injury which ruled him out of the tournament. Mitchell Starc is now back in the IPL and will play for Kolkata Knight Riders. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins also got a hefty sum and was purchased by Sunrisers Hyderabad for 20.50 crores.
Pat Cummins will join his teammate Travis Head in Hyderabad and can be a potential captain for them in the season. The top three expensive players in this auction were Mitchell Starc (24.75 cr), Pat Cummins (20.50 cr), and Daryl Mitchell (14 cr). Daryl Mitchell will play for Chennai Super Kings who also bought Rachin Ravindra for a meagre 1.80 crores.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is expected to commence on March 22 and will conclude in the last week of May. The expensive players have a task ahead of them and they will look forward to justify their price tag in the IPL 2024. It will be an interesting season for all the cricket lovers.
