Take a look at some of the biggest buys & biggest disappointments of the IPL auction that took place in Dubai on Tuesday:
Top buys
Mitchell Starc (Rs 24.75 cr)
Australia’s Mitchell Starc became the most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after attracting an eye-watering Rs 24.75 crore bid from Kolkata Knight Riders in the players’ auction on Tuesday.
Back after an eight-year gap, left-arm quick Starc was in demand as soon as his name was put under the hammer with Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals vying for his service. Both, however, retreated as bidding intensified and Kolkata trumped Gujarat Titans by offering the winning bid for the 33-year-old.
Pat Cummins (Rs 20.5 cr)
Australia captain Pat Cummins briefly held that record after Sunrisers Hyderabad agreed to splash Rs 20.5 crore for his service before Starc bettered that mark. Barely a month after leading Australia to the 50-overs World Cup title in India, Cummins entered the auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore.
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings were initially interested in him but both dropped out as a two-way bidding war ensued. Royal Challengers Bangalore doggedly pursued Cummins but 2016 champions Hyderabad had the last laugh in the tug-of-war over the fast bowler, who has also evolved as a handy lower-order hitter.
Daryl Mitchell (Rs 14 cr)
Daryl Mitchell had a massive payday with Chennai Super Kings spending Rs 14 crore for the New Zealand batter. CSK bought Mitchell after entering the fierce bidding battle late after Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings fought out initially.
Mitchell, who was formerly associated with Rajasthan Royals, became the focal point as the auction battle between Delhi and Punjab escalated. He was New Zealand’s second-most successful batter in WC 2023, scoring 552 runs in 10 matches with two centuries and two fifties at an average of 69.00.
Harshal Patel (Rs 11.75 cr)
The other who broke the bank was Harshal Patel who fetched Rs 11.75 crore from Punjab Kings. Harshal, who was released by RCB ahead of the auction, remains a sought after player with Punjab Kings going the distance for the out-of-favour India pacer.
Alzarri Joseph (Rs 11.5 cr)
West Indian speedster Alzarri Joseph was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 11.5 crore. The young and fiery fast bowler, known for his blistering pace and ability to rattle the stumps, became the centre of a fierce bidding war that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Biggest disappointments
Steve Smith
The biggest surprise in this year’s IPL auction came in the form of Steve Smith who won’t be seen in action after franchises showed no interest to acquire him. Smith made a transition from Rajasthan Royals to Delhi Capitals after being purchased for Rs 2.20 crore in the player auction preceding the IPL 2021. The right-handed batsman has amassed over 2485 runs in 103 IPL games, including a century and 11 half-centuries.
Josh Hazlewood
Aussie pacer Josh Hazlewood failed to attract any bids in the IPL 2024 auction because of his unavailability in the first half of the tournament.
Hazlewood, who played an integral role in Australia’s recent ODI World Cup win, will be away in March and April as the pacer and his wife are expecting their first child. He was released by the Royal Challengers Bangalore and was bracketed in the top-of-the-line Rs 2 crore base price category
Josh Inglis, Adil Rashid and Rassie Van Der Dussen are the other big names who went unsold.