Following Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc’s record-breaking day at the 2024 IPL auction, Anil Kumble questioned the clubs’ investment on international talent.
Starc and Cummins are the pioneering cricketers in IPL to fetch upwards of ₹20 crore. With a whopping ₹24.75 crore price tag, Starc achieved a record. Closely following, Pat Cummins stood second with ₹20.50 crore. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) snatched up Starc, while the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) picked Cummins.
Kumble, speaking to Jio Cinema, was perplexed by the Australian pair commanding more fees than Indian stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah simply by joining the auction.
“I mean, there is Jasprit Bumrah, right? He is the best all-format bowler in the world but just because he is already with a franchise, he cannot enjoy the perks on being part of an auction process. And someone like Starc, who hasn’t had the greatest form in T20Is, is earning a fortune. I can only imagine that someone like Virat Kohli or Bumrah must be watching this and thinking what is going on.”
Anil Kumble
It’s worth noting, Starc hasn’t participated in the IPL after his time with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during 2014 and 2015.
Cummins, meanwhile, missed the IPL last season and only played five games for KKR in 2022 before going home with a hip ailment.
“Franchise needs to set a limit on the money they will spend on an overseas player” – Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble thought the teams should limit how much money they spend on players from other countries during the IPL player sale.
In addition to Starc and Cummins, four of the top five most costly acquisitions were international players: Daryll Mitchell, Alzarri Joseph, and Spencer Johnson.
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Rajasthan Royals (RCB), and Gujarat Titans (GT) each paid more than ten crore for the trio.
“I’m happy for the teams but I really feel that every franchise needs to set a limit on the money they will spend on an overseas player, or the bracket of foreigners. ₹20 crore is a mad amount. I know that these are quality players but Mitchell Starc being offered almost ₹25 crore is pretty surprising to say the least,” said Kumble.
Anil Kumble
On an interesting day at the 2024 IPL auction, Harshal Patel was the only Indian to figure in the top five most expensive deals at 11.75 crore.
The Punjab Kings (PBKS) signed the bowling all-rounder who was released by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) prior to the auction.