"Those Two Are Exceptional Players But...": India Great's Take On Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins' IPL Auction Price

21.12.2023 - 10:45 sports.ndtv.com

IPL 2024 auctions were held in Dubai on Tuesday and grabbed a lot of limelight, as per the expectations. Australia pacer Mitchell Starc became the highlight of the event as he received the heaviest paycheck in the history of the tournament.

The 33-year-old Aussie was sold to Kolkata Knight Riders at a heft amount of 24.75 crore. Not only him, but Australia skipper Pat Cummins was also not far behind as he was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 20.50.

Both the Australia stars surpassed Sam Curran's record of being the costliest buy, who was earlier bought by Punjab Kings for Rs 18.25 crore in 2023 auctions.

The sale of Starc and Cummins left many former cricketers and fans astonished. India spin legend Anil Kumble stated that the franchises should be allotted a separate purse for overseas players as Indian players get sidelined during the auctions. "That's where I think you seriously need to look at a separate purse for the overseas because otherwise, you will have players not coming into the big auction, especially the foreign players who are in demand.

cricket Australia Cricket Team India Cricket Team Cummins on Pat Cummins Mitchell Starc Virat Kohli Anil Kumble Jasprit Bumrah Sam Curran Australia India county Mitchell

Mitchell Starc, Australia's World Cup-winning pacer, became the most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), after he was bought for Rs 24.75 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders at the Players Auction earlier this month. Starc became the second player to breach the Rs 20 crore mark during the IPL 2024 auction, following SunRisers Hyderabad's Rs 20.5 crore bid for Australia captain and star pacer Pat Cummins. Starc, who went into the auction at a base price of Rs 2 crore, attracted bids from Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans, but KKR secured his services eventually.

From Virat Kohli To Pat Cummins, A Look At Best Cricketers Of 2023

Cricket is a team sport, but yet every day, every month and every year, we find some select faces who stand out in a crowd of hundreds of players out there representing their national flag on the pitch. 2023 was no different. While the year will be remembered for Australia completing a three-peat of ICC World Test Championship, The Ashes and ICC Cricket World Cup, India's dominant run at home that concluded with heartbreak of a World Cup final loss, the aggression of South African cricket team, England's 'Bazball' school of Test cricket and failing down of old, World Cup winning empires like Sri Lanka, England and West Indies, certain individuals caught the eye of fans with their performances. Let us look at some of the best players of this year:

IPL Auction 2024: Is Mitchell Starc Worth The Monumental Bill For Kolkata Knight Riders?

The IPL auction 2024 emerged as an intense battleground where Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Gujarat Titans (GT) engaged fervently to add Mitchell Starc's firepower to their squad. While there was no doubt that Starc, especially after the ODI World Cup success in India, would be a highly sought-after player in the auction, his acquisition by the KKR for a record-breaking sum of Rs 24.75 crore raised the eyebrows of many. Breaking it down, if KKR play a maximum 17 matches in IPL 2024, Mitchell Starc's acquisition would amount to over Rs 6 lakh per ball bowled or Rs 1.45 crore per match. This prompts the question: Does this investment truly justify the expense?

Ex-Australia Star "Delighted" Over Mitchell Starc's IPL Deal. Says This On Pat Cummins' Price Tag

Former Australia pacer Jason Gillespie has questioned Pat Cummins' massive IPL price tag, saying T20 cricket is not the quick's best format but backed Mitchell Starc's jaw-dropping Rs 24.75 crore deal. Cummins attracted the second highest paycheck in the auction in Dubai on Tuesday after an intense bidding war between Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, who shelled out a whopping Rs 20.50 crore for the Australian captain.

"Somebody Will Have To Pay...": Gautam Gambhir On Mitchell Starc's Rs 24.75 Crore IPL 2024 Auction Bid

Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir has justified his franchise bidding for Mitchell Starc for a record-breaking amount, saying that the Australia quick will be the X-factor and the leader of the bowling pack. KKR shelled out a jaw-dropping Rs 24.75 crore to get the services of Starc in the IPL auction in Dubai on Tuesday. "He (Starc) is an X-factor, there is no doubt about that. Someone who can bowl with the new ball, bowl in the death overs and more importantly, someone who can lead the attack," Gambhir, who was present at the auction, said.

IPL 2024 Auction: "Not Thinking Of Beer..." - Wife And Australia Captain Alyssa Healy On Mitchell Starc's Rs 24.75 Crore Windfall

Australia Women's team captain Alyssa Healy on Wednesday said that her husband and fast bowler Mitchell Starc deserved the record-breaking IPL paycheck as he has worked hard for many years. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spent a mind-boggling Rs 24.75 crores to get the services of Australia quick Starc for the highest purchase in IPL history in the auction in Dubai on Tuesday. “Look, it is what it is,” Healy, who got married to Starc in April 2016, told the media ahead of Australia's one-off women's Test against India starting on Thursday. “It is an amazing moment for Mitch. It is a great justification for the hard work he has put in and (for) probably some of the choices he has made over the last eight years to put his country first,” she said.