The IPL 2024 auction in Dubai created waves as Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins became the first players in IPL history to be sold for over ₹20 crore each. Starc set a new record with a staggering ₹24.75 crore bid, while Cummins was close behind at ₹20.50 crore. These colossal amounts raised eyebrows, prompting former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble to question the dynamics of the auction.
In an interview with Jio Cinema, Kumble expressed his surprise at the high prices fetched by Starc and Cummins, especially considering their recent form. He remarked, “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 of 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.”
Starc’s last appearance in the IPL was with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2015, while Cummins missed the previous season due to injury after representing the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022. Kumble emphasized the need for franchises to set limits on spending for overseas players, especially given that four of the top five most expensive signings in the auction were foreign players.
Kumble’s concern was echoed by the dominance of overseas players in the top signings, with Daryl Mitchell, Alzarri Joseph, and Spencer Johnson also securing high bids. He urged franchises to consider imposing a cap on the money spent on overseas players, citing Starc’s almost ₹25 crore deal as an example of excessive spending.
“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
Despite the focus on overseas players, Harshal Patel was the only Indian player in the top five most expensive signings, securing a deal with the Punjab Kings for ₹11.75 crore. The auction’s dynamics have raised questions about the balance between overseas and domestic players and the financial limits that should govern the IPL auctions in the future.
As the dust settles on the IPL 2024 auction, the cricketing world awaits the tournament’s commencement with anticipation, keeping a keen eye on how the record-breaking signings will perform on the grand stage of the Indian Premier League.
I have included all the direct speech sentences from Anil Kumble’s interview and summarized the key points from the article. Let me know if you need any further changes or additions!
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