IPL Auction 2024: Cummins 2nd Most Expensive Buy In IPL History As SRH Break The Bank For Australian Skipper

Sunrisers Hyderabad scripted history as they bought Pat Cummins for 20.5 Cr to make him the 2nd most expensive IPL player ever.

IPL Auction 2024: Australian World Cup winning captain Pat Cummins became the 2nd most expensive IPL player in history (first being Mitchell Starc to KKR) as Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for a record Rs 20.5 crore. Sunrisers Hyderabad saw off competition from Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Royal Challengers Bangalore to avail his services for the upcoming IPL 2024. The Australian all-rounder also became the first player ever to cross the Rs 20 crore mark as Sunrisers, which finished last in the 2023 edition, were adamant to rope him for the next season. 

Pat Cummins is coming off an impressive and historic 2023 as he became the first captain ever to win two major International Cricket Council (ICC) events within the same calendar year. Apart from retaining The Ashes, Cummins won the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup to cap off a mesmerising year. 

The lanky pacer had a decent World Cup campaign personally as he grabbed 15 wickets and also chipped in with the bat when Australia needed him during their match against Afghanistan. 

While his T20 stats may not be impressive, Cummins has always been a hot commodity in the Indian Premier League. In the 2019 auction, Cummins was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 15.50 crore.

The Australian has previously played for Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals and hasn't had much of an impressive IPL career, with the highlight being his unbeaten 56 off 15 against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022 that became the record for the fastest-ever half century in the history of IPL.

With Cummins in their squad, he can be asked to lead the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2024 IPL. The area has been a major weak point for SRH as neither Aiden Markram, nor Mayank Agarwal lived up to their potential in the last few editions.

Cummins joins Aiden Markram, Heinrick Klassen, Marco Jansen, Glenn Phillips, Fazal Farooqui, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Travis Head as the overseas players for the franchise. With the additions of Cummins, Hasaranga and Head, SRH are looking a much more formidable side ahead of the 2024 tournament.