Australian skipper Pat Cummins’ record of
becoming the most expensive player at a whopping ₹20.5 crore in the auction history
of the Indian Premier League couldn’t last more than an hour.
He was soon beaten by none other than
his Australia teammate Mitchell Starc, who went to Kolkata Knight Riders at ₹24.75
crore while Cummins went to Sunrisers Hyderabad, during the auction held in
Dubai.
This marks Starc’s second stint with the
two-time IPL champions after he had represented them back in 2015.
Starc, always expected to be one of the
biggest and most eye-catching buys, had apparently received offers from as many
as five franchises the moment he put his name into the auction process.
Starc’s name, when announced by
auctioneer Mallika Sagar, brought out a collective gasp and some hooting from
the crowd.
Starc, base price of ₹2 crore, was soon
aimed by Mumbai Indians, after which Delhi Capitals joined the race. A Delhi vs
Mumbai bidding war unfolded before DC withdrew when the mark reached ₹9.4
crore.
NE Watch Desk
