News by “Sana Ullah”
Australia’s World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins has made history by becoming the costliest player in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Sunrisers Hyderabad secured his services for a record-breaking 205 million rupees ($2.47 million), surpassing the previous highest bid of $2.23 million held by England’s Sam Curran. Cummins, who sat out the previous IPL due to a busy schedule, expressed his excitement about joining Hyderabad for the upcoming season.
The fast bowler, renowned for his performance in the World Cup final against India, where he dismissed star batsman Virat Kohli, was highly praised for leading Australia to victory. Cummins, 30, had set a previous auction record of $2.17 million in 2019 when he signed with the Kolkata Knight Riders.
New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell emerged as the second-highest earner at the auction, as Chennai Super Kings acquired him for $1.6 million. Mitchell, a standout performer at the World Cup, scoring two centuries against India, will join the Chennai franchise for the upcoming season.
Other notable signings included West Indies’ Rovman Powell, who went to Rajasthan Royals for $890,000, and Australian Travis Head, who will be Cummins’ teammate at Hyderabad after being sold for $818,000. South African paceman Gerald Coetzee was picked up by Mumbai Indians for $602,000.
Despite a successful World Cup campaign, New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra attracted limited interest, with Chennai securing his services for a modest $216,000. Former Australia captain Steve Smith and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis went unsold in the initial rounds.
The IPL auction, featuring over 300 players, is a significant event for Indian cricket, contributing over $11 billion to the economy annually. The tournament’s popularity and financial success have attracted top cricketing talent from around the world, with Mumbai Indians holding the record for being the richest and most successful side in IPL history, boasting five titles.
The IPL, known for its substantial salaries, has played a pivotal role in popularizing Twenty20 cricket globally and inspiring similar T20 leagues worldwide. Last year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secured broadcast rights for the next five IPL seasons for a staggering $6.2 billion from global media giants. Additionally, the BCCI successfully introduced the women’s edition of the T20 tournament, generating nearly $700 million in combined franchise and media rights.
