In a groundbreaking IPL 2024 auction, the cricketing world witnessed a record-breaking spree with Mitchell Starc emerging as the costliest player in the history of the tournament. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) splurged a staggering ₹24.75 crore to secure Starc’s services, surpassing the record set by his captain Pat Cummins just an hour earlier. Cummins, acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), fetched a whopping ₹20.5 crore.
Here’s the purchase of Starc:-
That's a GRAND return to the IPL for Mitchell Starc 😎
DO NOT MISS the record-breaking bid of the left-arm pacer who will feature for @KKRiders 💜💪#IPLAuction | #IPL pic.twitter.com/D1A2wr2Ql3
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 19, 2023
THE BIGGEST IPL BID EVER 😱
HISTORY CREATED here at the #IPLAuction
Australia's World Cup winning captain Pat Cummins is SOLD to @SunRisers for a HISTORIC INR 20.5 Crore 💰💰💰💰#IPL pic.twitter.com/bpHJjfKwED
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 19, 2023
The auction saw intense bidding wars, with Indian pacers Umesh Yadav and Shivam Mavi attracting significant sums of ₹5.8 crore and ₹6.4 crore, landing in the squads of Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) respectively. Daryl Mitchell, the New Zealand all-rounder, secured a lucrative deal of ₹14 crore with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), while Punjab Kings (PBKS) broke the bank for Harshal Patel at ₹11.75 crore.
West Indies T20 captain Rovman Powell became the first player sold, fetching a remarkable ₹7.40 crore in a fierce bidding battle between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders. However, some players, including Rilee Rossouw, Steve Smith, and Karun Nair, went unsold.
The auction spotlight also shone on all-rounders, with CSK acquiring Shardul Thakur (₹4 crore) and Rachin Ravindra (₹1.8 crore) in the second set of picks. Australia’s Travis Head engaged in a bidding war between CSK and SRH before eventually being sold for ₹6.8 crore.
Also read: Gavaskar Questions Rohit Sharma’s Enthusiasm, Analyzes Hardik Pandya’s IPL 2024 Captaincy Decision
Notable overseas players like Josh Inglis, Kusal Mendis, Adil Rashid, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman found no takers, reflecting a dynamic auction day where teams aimed to strike the right balance with a limited number of slots available. The stage is set for IPL 2024, with teams crafting their line-ups for an exciting season ahead.
