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IPL Auctions: Pat Cummins breaks record with Rs 20.50 crore move to Sunrisers Hyderabad

Debodinna ChakrabortyDecember 19, 2023 | 15:11 IST

The IPL 2024 auction in Dubai has already made history with Sunrisers Hyderabad securing the services of the 2023 ODI World Cup-winning Australian skipper, Pat Cummins, for a staggering Rs 20.50 crore.

What

  • Following a competitive bidding war with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad secured the acquisition of Australian all-rounder Pat Cummins for the forthcoming Indian Premier League 2024 season.
  • Sunrisers acquired the 2023 World Cup-winning skipper for a whopping Rs 20.50 crore, leaving everyone inside the Coca Cola arena in Dubai astonished.
  • This purchase establishes Pat Cummins as the most expensive IPL acquisition in the competition's entire history.

Highest purchase ever in IPL

  • Cummins has already made history in the initial session of the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai.
  • Prior to Sunrisers Hyderabad's acquisition of Cummins for Rs 20.50 crore, Sam Curran from England held the title of being the most expensive player last year.
  • Punjab Kings bought Curran for a whopping 18.5 crore just after he was named the Player of the Tournament at the 2022 T20 World Cup.

How does it set things up for SRH?

  • With the acquisition of Pat Cummins, Sunrisers Hyderabad finds itself in a perplexing scenario. Before Cummins, SRH added another Australian player to their squad, securing Travis Head for Rs 6.8 crore.
  • Hyderabad's team structure hasn't been on par with the other nine franchises, evident from their performances in the last season.
  • This purchase for SRH might lead to a change in captains, moving from Aiden Markram to Pat Cummins.
  • Pat Cummins, who successfully led Australia to win the 2023 ODI World Cup, is an experienced skipper.
  • SRH could tap into this experience by making Cummins the leader of the Hyderabad side.

  • While the notion of acquiring a complete all-rounder like Cummins and a star batter like Travis Head seems promising, SRH still faces numerous challenges on their already struggling team.

  • Yet, their remaining purse value provides them with limited chances to pursue another prominent player fully.

Expensive purchases so far

  • Following Pat Cummins, New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell sealed another big Rs 14 crore move to Chennai Super Kings.
  • Indian fast-bowler Harshal Patel was sold for 11.75 crore to the Punjab Kings. 
  • West Indian skipper Rovman Powell shocked everyone after coming on as the first player of the auction and sealing a Rs 7.40 crore move to the Rajasthan Royals.
Last updated: December 19, 2023 | 15:51
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