The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction witnessed unprecedented spending on Tuesday, with the INR 20-crore barrier shattered not once, but twice! In a thrilling bidding war, Sunrisers Hyderabad secured Pat Cummins for a staggering INR 20.5 crore, briefly making him the league’s most expensive player. However, this record was quickly eclipsed by his fellow Aussie, Mitchell Starc, who Kolkata Knight Riders snapped up for an even more astronomical INR 24.75 crore.
These astronomical figures highlight a pivotal shift in the IPL landscape. For the first time ever, two players command a higher pay than the previous season’s championship prize money! The combined INR 45.25 crore spent on the Australian duo alone paints a vivid picture of the premium placed on world-class pace bowling.
While Cummins and Starc dominated the headlines, other noteworthy performances came from Harshal Patel, the highest-priced Indian player at INR 11.75 crore (Kings), and Daryl Mitchell, bought by CSK for INR 14 crore (third-most expensive).
Interestingly, KKR’s strategy revolved heavily around Starc, as they utilized 75.69% of their purse on the left-arm pacer. This decision influenced their remaining buys, with nine of their ten additional players acquired at base price. Their commitment to Starc reflects the immense value assigned to impactful fast bowling.
Speaking of pace, bowlers, both specialists and all-rounders, dominated the auction. A staggering 36 out of 72 players sold were pacers, commanding a combined sum of INR 154.5 crore (almost two-thirds of the total spending). Interestingly, overseas pace bowlers stole the show, with ten out of 20 fetching INR 4 crore or more, compared to just three Indian pacers achieving the same mark.
In a heartwarming turn of events, Jaydev Unadkat, bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 1.6 crore, is poised to enter the record books. If he plays for Sunrisers, he’ll become only the second player after Aaron Finch to represent eight different IPL franchises.
Overall, the 2022 IPL auction witnessed a paradigm shift, with pace bowling taking center stage and overseas players commanding sky-high prices. It leaves us in anticipation of a thrilling IPL season, where these high-value acquisitions battle it out for ultimate glory.
