When Pat Cummins Was Brought By KKR For Rs. 15.5 Crores
Pat Cummins in KKR colors (x.com)
Pat Cummins set the cash registers ringing at the IPL 2024 auction, as the Australian skipper briefly became the most expensive player in IPL history, until he was surpassed by his own pace mate Mitchell Starc.
The legendary speedster was sold to the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) franchise for a staggering sum of Rs. 20.50 crores, surpassing English all-rounder Sam Curran and his 2022 bank for the Punjab Kings.
Notably, this is not the first time Cummins has hit the jackpot in an IPL auction. Back during the IPL 2020 bidding event, the fast bowler also became the costliest overseas pick in history when he landed a lucrative gig for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
When Pat Cummins went big for KKR
Pat Cummins registered his name for the IPL 2020 auction after taking a two-year hiatus to focus on his Australian cricketing affairs. Little did he expected to draw as much attention as he garnered upon his return, as he was picked up by the KKR franchise for Rs. 15.50 crores, i.e., nearly eight times his base value.
In a bid to acquire Cummins, the KKR management was involved in an intense bidding war with RCB and his former team Delhi Capitals. The three-way conflict intensified Cummins’ value, thus helping him land a lucrative gig for the Eoin Morgan-led team.
At the time, the Australian fast bowler became the costliest overseas purchase at an IPL auction, and the second most-expensive pick after Yuvraj Singh’s 2014 windfall with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).
Cummins spent his subsequent three IPL seasons at the KKR, before the speedster opted himself out of the IPL 2023 season to focus on Australia’s Ashes, World Cup and WTC projects. During his three-year stay at the franchise, the right-arm quick collected 26 wickets from 26 games, and much to everyone’s surprise, unleashed a number of match-winning cameos with the bat.
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