Ex-India player feels it’s “WRONG” Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah don’t get Rs 45 crore and Rs 35 crore after Aussie players hit jackpot in IPL auction

It was Cummins who crossed the Rs 20 crore mark (Rs 20.50 crore) for the first time in the history of the auction and about an hour later, Starc surpassed him, becoming the most expensive player.

Ex-India player feels it’s “WRONG” Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah don’t get Rs 45 crore and Rs 35 crore after Aussie players hit jackpot in IPL auction

Virat Kohli, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah (Images via Hindustan Times, ESPNricinfo)

Australia skipper Pat Cummins and pacer Mitchell Starc fetched a collective Rs 45 crore in the auction for the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) held in Dubai’s Coca-Cola arena on Tuesday (December 19). It was Cummins who crossed the Rs 20 crore mark (Rs 20.50 crore) for the first time in the history of the auction and about an hour later, Starc surpassed him, becoming the most expensive player, fetching Rs 24.75 crore. Cummins and Starc were sold to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) respectively.

This high price to Aussie players baffled former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra. According to him, if these two Aussie players attracted so much, the likes of Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah could fetch more. He asked whether Starc and Cummins even deserve so much even if they are not some of the most successful bowlers in T20 cricket, despite being lethal pacers in international cricket.

YouTube video
If Mitchell Starc plays all 14 games and bowls his full quota of four overs, each ball will cost Rs 7,60,000. Astonishing. But here's the question. Who is the world's best bowler? Who is the IPL's best bowler? His name is Jasprit Bumrah.
Chopra said on his YouTube channel

He went on to explain why it’s wrong that Bumrah gets Rs 12 crore despite being the best IPL bowler. Chopra reckons if Bumrah or Kohli ask their respective franchise to release them, they should fetch Rs 35 crore and Rs 45 crore respectively.

If that isn't happening, there is a fault.

Akash Chopra feels SRH buying Pat Cummins makes no sense

Pat Cummins is enjoying a lot of success in 2023. Under his captaincy, Australia won the World Test Championship (WTC) final, drew the Ashes, and lastly, won the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Pat Cummins Mitchell Strac IPL auction
Virat Kohli, Pat Cummins (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

Akash Chopra feels SRH might have roped in Cummins to make him the skipper. The former India player thinks buying Cummins for such a whopping price will be a waste if they don’t make him the skipper.

Chopra pointed out the average T20 stats of Cummins. He feels the Aussie pacer’s numbers are “50-50”, and that he doesn’t even have the greatest IPL record. Notably, Cummins is also not a regular face in the IPL. He skipped last season’s league due to a hectic international schedule.

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