Pat Cummins strikes gold after SRH's bid of ₹20.5 crore; huge payday for Harshal, Mitchell as well
SRH, after triumphing an intense bidding war against Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, roped in the World Cup-winning captain, Pat Cummins
Will we see a INR 20 crore bid in Dubai? It was the question most asked, few saw a possibility and Sunrisers Hyderabad, on Tuesday, made it a reality. The 2016 champions, after triumphing an intense bidding war against Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, roped in the 2023 ODI World Cup-winning captain, Pat Cummins for a record price of INR 20.50 crore, making the Australia, the most expensive player in the history of IPL, beating the record set by England's Sam Curran last year at ₹18.5 crore. (IPL Auction 2024 Live Updates)
Chennai Super Kings were the first to kick off the bidding process at the base price of INR 2 crore for the Aussie all-rounder before Mumbai Indians gave them a fierce battle as the price quickly rose to 4.8 crore with Chennai. Mumbai then backed out shortly after, and just went CSK thought they have acquired a third all-rounder after roping in World Cup's breakout star in Rachin Ravindra (Base Price of ₹50 lakh) for INR 1.8 crore, and getting back Shardul Thakur (Base Price of ₹2 crore) for INR 4 crore, RCB joined the act.
Full list of sold and unsold players, IPL auction 2024
Bangalore eventually outlasted CSK after their bid of 7.8 crore, but a fresh competition on Sunrisers Hyderabad, who had acquired Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga for a steal deal (at his base price of INR 1.5 crore), emerged. The nail-biting bidding war carried on before the room broke into a big round of applause with SRH's 20-crore proposal. RCB still pushed their limit further, but it was Hyderabad who had the last laugh.
Cummins, who led Australia to a World Test Championship title win in June, retained the Ashes in England and silenced a packed Indian crowd in Ahmedabad in the ODI World Cup final, emerged among the most costliest players for the second time in IPL history. Back in 2020, he was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 15.50, which made him the most expensive foreign player. Overall, he has played 16 IPL matches, taking 17 wickets at an economy rate of 8.29 and has a reputation of being a handy lower-order batter after having smashed a 14-ball 50 for KKR against Mumbai.
CSK splurge INR 14 crore on Daryl Mitchell
The New Zealand all-rounder is another World Cup hero, having scored two centuries against India in that tournament - in the league stage and the semifinal. Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings found themselves in a thrilling battle in Dubai with the base price of INR 1 crore being pushed as far as 11.75 crore when DC backed out. But PBKS were still not confirmed as the winners as Chennai jumped into the bidding process and outlasted Punjab with their whopping offer of INR 14 crore.
Punjab acquire Harshal Patel for 11.75 crore
Punjab did fail to get Mitchell, but they managed to rope in India all-rounder Harshal Patel after beating Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Kings in the process with their 11.75 crore crore. Punjab also managed to sign another all-rounder in Chris Woakes for INR 4.20 crore, while Gerald Coetzee for South Africa, who had a stellar World Cup campaign with 21 wickets in 10 games, went to Mumbai Indians for 5 crore.
