'He Has An X-Factor..'- Sunil Gavaskar Predicts Ex-KKR Star To Grab Attention In IPL Auction

Pat Cummins has represented KKR in the past [X.com]

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has backed the World Cup winning captain and star pacer Pat Cummins to attract the most interest from all the franchises during the upcoming IPL 2024 auction on December 19.

Cummins decided to skip the 2023 season, citing a busy international schedule with the Border Gavaskar Trophy and the Ashes. However, he's back in the mix for the cash-rich T20 league, with a base price of INR 2 crore.

During an interview with Star Sports at the India-South Africa 2nd T20I, Gavaskar expressed that Cummins' dual prowess in both powerful batting and world-class bowling puts him as the top pick for IPL franchises.

Here’s what Sunil Gavaskar said:

"I think there will be tremendous interest in Pat Cummins. Don't forget when he played for KKR, he got the fastest fifty at one stage. So he can play as a batter as well, apart from the fact that he's one of the best bowlers that the game has seen. I think he would be the one that will attract the most interest from all the franchises."

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Notably, the Australian pacer was roped in by the two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 7.25 crore in the 2022 mega auction, but the team decided to release him from the squad when he decided to skip the 2023 season. 

Pat Cummins Has Got X-Factor: Sanjay Manjrekar

Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar isn't alone in his endorsement as the former Indian cricketer, now turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar also supports the Australian captain, suggesting he could be a strong contender for captaincy in the cash-rich league. 

“Pat Cummins would be a great addition on a pitch where, you know, most bowlers struggle. He has got that X factor and out of the box thinking, you know, just something of a wild card.”

“A couple of teams looking for leadership, different leadership. SunRisers Hyderabad with Aiden Markram, Punjab Kings with Shikhar Dhawan. So Pat Cummins recent performance as a leader as well could maybe get the attention of a few team owners as well. Unlikely to happen, but can't rule that out.” 

With experiences at KKR in 2014-2015 and 2020-2022, plus a stint at Delhi Capitals in 2017, Cummins enters the IPL 2024 auction on the heels of an Australian World Cup victory. The anticipation is high, and it's certain that multiple franchises will be in a fierce bidding war for Pat Cummins.

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