PTI
Kochi, December 23
England all-rounder Sam Curran on Friday became the most expensive player in the history of IPL auctions after fetching a whopping Rs 18.5 crore bid from Punjab Kings here.
An intense bidding followed for Curran with Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings raising their paddles frenetically to secure the services of T20 World Cup player of the tournament. The previous best buy was of Rs 16.25 crore that Rajasthan Royals had shelled out to grab South African all-rounder Chris Morris in 2021.
Australia all-rounder Cameroon Green was second-highest earner, fetching Rs 17.5 crore bid from Mumbai Indians. “I am pinching myself that this has all happened. It’s such a weird feeling watching an auction for yourself. I can’t believe how nervous I was and I was shaking like anything when the final call was confirmed,” Green said on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Live – Auction Special’.
other major bids
Rs 17.5 cr Cameroon Green, Oz all-rounder: Goes to Mumbai Indians
Rs 16.25 cr Ben Stokes, England Test skipper: Bought by CSK
Rs 13.25 cr Harry Brook, England batter: Sunrisers Hyderabad
Rs 8.25 cr Mayank Agarwal: Sunrisers Hyderabad
Rs 5.75 cr Jason Holder, West Indies all-rounder: Rajasthan Royals
Rs 2 cr Kane Williamson, New Zealand stalwart: Gujarat Titans
Rs 50 lakh Ajinkya Rahane: CSK
Going Unsold
South Africa batter Rilee Rossouw, B’desh all-rounder Shakib-Al-Hasan
England Test skipper Ben Stokes was the third-highest gainer, fetching Rs 16.25 crore from CSK, who pipped Kolkata Knight Riders in another intense bidding war. England players were in demand as batter Harry Brook earned a Rs 13.25 crore winning bid from Sunrisers Hyderabad. Brook, who struck three hundreds in as many games and set new record for most runs by an England batter in a Test series in Pakistan, started at a base price of Rs 1.5 crore.
India international Mayank Agarwal was also bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 8.25 crore. His base price was set at Rs 1 crore. New Zealand stalwart Kane Williamson was sold at his base price at Rs 2 crore to Gujarat Titans.
Out-of-favour India batter Ajinkya Rahane was sold at his base price of Rs 50 lakh to Chennai Supper Kings, the only bidder for the player. South Africa batter Rilee Rossouw and Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib-Al-Hasan went unsold.
West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder was sold to Rajasthan Royals for Rs 5.75 crore. Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch was not surprised by the big bucks attracted by Curran, Stokes and Green, saying all three were world-class all-rounders who could add value to their respective sides.
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