IPL 2023 AUCTION

Sam Curran became the most expensive signing in IPL history on Friday (23) with Punjab Kings forking out INR 18.50 crores for the England all-rounder at the 2023 auction. The signing amount surpassed the INR 16.25 crores that Rajasthan Royals paid for Chris Morris at the 2021 auction – the previous record for a player signed at the auction.

Punjab entered the bidding battle only at the INR 13.50 crore mark after the Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and the Chennai Super Kings had taken stabs at signing the recently crowned Player of the Tournament at the T20 World Cup in Australia. They staved off competition from CSK, Lucknow Super Giants and another late attempt from Mumbai Indians to land the player at a record price.

The five-time champions, however, had their marquee signing when they dished out the second-highest signing amount – INR 17.50 crores – for young Australian all-rounder Cameron Green. Mumbai Indians began the bidding battle with Royal Challengers Bangalore and stood firm through the distance to sign the 23-year-old, who gave a glimpse of his abilities opening the batting for Australia in a short T20I series just before the T20 World Cup, scoring 118 runs in three games at a strike-rate of 214.54.

Along expected lines, all-rounders were the flavour of the auction with Ben Stokes’ signing for INR 16.25 crores by Chennai Super Kings rounding off a frenetic first-two rounds of bidding. CSK, who lost out on bring Curran back to Chennai, entered late for the England Test captain and outlasted Lucknow Super Giants’ attempts to sign him. Stokes will be reunited with MS Dhoni in Chennai, having teamed up with the former India captain at the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant in the 2016-17 seasons.

Nicholas Pooran, who was signed for INR 10.75 crore in the mega auction last year, earned himself another big pay day with Lucknow Super Giants shelling out a whopping INR 16 crores for the West Indian, who has yet to light up the league. The 27-year-old has played 47 games in the league for an aggregate of 912 runs at a strike-rate of 151.24.

Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad, who entered the auction with the largest purse (INR 42.25 crore) were the early risers of the auction, shelling out a combined sum of INR 21.5 crores for the services of Harry Brook (INR 13.25 Cr) and Mayank Agarwal (INR 8.25 cr). The Englishman, who recently won the Player of the Series award in the Test series sweep of Pakistan, sparked a furious bidding battle between SRH and the Rajasthan Royals. The latter were happy to bid INR 13 crore even if it would have left them with just 20 lakhs in the purse but were ultimately prized out by Sunrisers, who then doubled down to wrest away Mayank Agarwal – a potential candidate for captain – from an eager CSK.

The Royals eventually did get themselves an all-rounder of their own, signing Jason Holder for INR 5.75 crores.

Other notable buys

Heinrich Klaasen – Sunrisers Hyderabad – INR 5.25 crores

Kane Williamson – Gujarat Titans – INR 2 crores

Phil Salt – Delhi Capitals – INR 2 crores

Reece Topley – Royal Challengers Bangalore – INR 1.9 crores

Jhye Richardson – Mumbai Indians – INR 1.5 crores

Sikandar Raza – Punjab Kings – INR 50 lakhs

Odean Smith – Gujarat Titans – INR 50 lakhs

Ajinkya Rahane – Chennai Super Kings – INR 50 lakhs

(Cricbuzz)