Australia’s Mitchell Starc, who signed a lucrative deal of INR 24.75 crore with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), emerged as the most expensive player in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. One-Day International (ODI) and Test captain Pat Cummins of Australia was another player who drew interest during the business event. He was sold for INR 20.50 crore to the 2016 champion Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Many cricket fans believed that SRH might have acquired a stronger bowler than Cummins after this trade because of the Australian legend’s lackluster IPL record. It’s crucial to examine his track record in the league with a large salary after this conversation. Throughout his 42 games, the 30-year-old has claimed 45 wickets at a standard economy rate of 8.54.
In the 2020 IPL, Cummins became the most expensive player when the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) paid INR 15.50 crore for him. With just 12 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 7.86, he was unable to live up to his price during the competition. He returned to the KKR in 2021 but was not as successful.
Based on these figures, it is evident that Cummins has not been playing at his peak in the league. For the business event in Dubai, they might have chosen a bowler who is now enjoying great form or who has a respectable record in the annual Twenty20 tournament. In order to continue the conversation, let’s look at the three players that SRH ought to have bid on instead of the Australian captain.