The 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to get underway in a few months. Before the tournament, the BCCI organized the mini-auction amidst much fanfare in Dubai on December 19, where records were written. A total of 72 players – 42 Indian and 32 overseas players, were sold at the 2024 IPL auction.
This blog will look at the 2024 IPL auction highlights – expensive buys and the list of top overseas players, Indian players, and uncapped players.
2024 IPL Auction Highlights
The 2024 IPL auction saw plenty of records tumble. First, Australian skipper Pat Cummins broke the bar set by Sam Curran of being the most expensive IPL player when Sunrisers Hyderabad bought the fast bowler for ₹20.5 crore. However, within less than 60 minutes, his compatriot Mitchell Starc would see an intense bidding war, becoming the most expensive IPL player with a price tag of ₹24.75 crore.
In the Indian capped players category, fast and medium pacers were in demand. Harshal Patel was snapped up for ₹11.75 crore by Punjab Kings, while Shivam Mavi and Umesh Yadav got more than five crores. Meanwhile, Sameer Rizvi – a 20-year-old from Meerut – was sold to Chennai Super Kings for a whopping ₹8.4 crore, making him among the most expensive uncapped players in IPL history.
Top 5 Expensive Players in 2024 IPL Auction
Read More: Find the complete list of Sold players in the 2024 IPL Auction
Top Overseas Buys in 2024 IPL Auction
Aussie dominance was at the forefront of the 2024 IPL auction, with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc getting a total of ₹45.25 crore between them. However, they were not the only ones who took a hefty paycheck at the auction in Dubai. Here are the top five overseas buys in the 2024 IPL auction:
Mitchell Starc:
Kolkata Knight Riders bought Starc for a whopping ₹24.75 crore after an intense bidding war with Gujarat Titans. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals began the tussle for the 33-year-old. The two-time winners and the 2022 champions, too, joined after the number rose above ₹10 crore. Finally, the Titans gave up, helping the Kolkata outfit to secure the services of the left-arm pacer, who hasn’t played in an IPL since 2015, when he represented Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Pat Cummins:
Pat Cummins, who led Australia to the 2023 ODI World Cup title, was amidst an intense bidding tussle between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians paved the way for fierce bidding by the 2016 champions and the three-time runners-up. A relentless Sunrisers beat the Bengaluru-based franchise to seal Cummins’ signature for ₹20.50 crore.
Daryl Mitchell:
Daryl Mitchell, bought for ₹75 lakh in the 2022 IPL auction by Rajasthan Royals, saw his stocks rise thanks to his outstanding performances with the bat in the 2023 World Cup. What started as a battle between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings was won by Chennai Super Kings after paying ₹14 crore. With Rayudu retired, the Kiwi cricketer will likely play the anchor role for the five-time champions.
Alzarri Joseph:
After two successful seasons at Gujarat Titans, Alzarri Joseph saw Royal Challengers land him for ₹11.50 crore in the 2024 auction. The West Indian pacer had plenty of suitors. Lucknow Super Giants fought hard to seal Joseph’s signature but withdrew due to limited cash purse available. The 27-year-old will likely be the main in the Royal Challengers pace attack.
Spencer Johnson:
Australian left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson was one of the biggest surprise packages in the auction. Gujarat Titans made the opening bid of ₹50 Lakhs and grabbed the player at ₹10 crore after a close fight with Delhi Capitals, who wanted to add the Aussie to their already strong attack of Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Ishant Sharma, etc. Johnson, who made his international debut this year, is a like-for-like replacement for Alzarri Joseph.
Top Capped Indian Buys in 2024 IPL Auction
Overseas players might have dominated and claimed huge paychecks, but there were a few capped Indian players as well who went more than their base price. From Harshal Patel to Jaydev Unadkat, here are the top five capped Indian buys in the 2024 IPL auction:
Harshal Patel:
Medium-pacer Harshal Patel became the most expensive Indian player in the 2024 IPL auction after he was bought for ₹11.75 crore by Punjab Kings, who staved off interest from Gujarat Titans. Harshal, a street-smart bowler, won the Purple Cap holder in the 2021 edition while representing Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Shivam Mavi:
Once a rising star, 25-year-old Shivam Mavi saw his IPL career derail due to injury. However, with age on his side, teams thought of giving him one more chance, as the Lucknow Super Giants bought him for ₹6.4 crore. The franchise faced competition from Royal Challengers Bangalore for the signature of the Indian international.
Umesh Yadav:
Despite not being part of the India white-ball squads for over a year, Umesh Yadav attracted suitors at the auction. Gujarat Titans faced stiff competition from Sunrisers Hyderabad early and Delhi Capitals later. However, the Ahmedabad-based franchise snapped the fast bowler for a fee of ₹5.8 crore.
Shardul Thakur:
All-rounder Shardul Thakur, who had a base price of ₹2 crore, returned to a franchise where he played between 2018-2021 seasons. Chennai Super Kings bought the all-rounder for ₹4 crore after Sunrisers Hyderabad, who made the opening bid, withdrew from bidding.
Jaydev Unadkat:
The joint-most expensive player in the 2018 IPL auction, Jaydev Unadkat, was snapped up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹1.6 crore. Delhi Capitals were also interested in the left-arm fast bowler, who plied his trade with Lucknow Super Giants in the 2023 season.
Top Capped Uncapped Buys in 2024 IPL Auction
A few uncapped players also grabbed the spotlight in the 2024 IPL auction. These players impressed the franchises with stellar and consistent performances in the Indian domestic circuit. Here are the top five uncapped purchases in the 2024 IPL auction:
Sameer Rizvi:
Uttar Pradesh batter Sameer Rizvi, who was outstanding in the 2023 UP T20 League, entered the auction at a base price of ₹20 lakhs but attracted massive interest from Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans. The Chennai-based franchise eventually landed the 20-year-old for ₹8.4 crore.
Shahrukh Khan:
Chennai-born Shahrukh Khan, released from Punjab Kings ahead of the auction, was paid ₹7.4 crore from Gujarat Titans, who went for an all-out bidding war with the Punjab Kings to secure his services. Known for his hard-hitting skills, Shahrukh struggled with the bat in the 2023 Tamil Nadu Premier League but finished as the tournament’s top wicket-taker.
Kumar Kushagra:
A three-way battle ensued to snap up young wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra, hailing from Jharkhand. Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, and Delhi Capitals were in the fray for the 19-year-old. After intense bidding, Delhi Capital pipped Gujarat Titans to add Kushagra to their roster for a price of ₹7.2 crore.
Shubham Dubey:
A handy hitter in the lower middle order, Shubham Dubey grabbed a big paycheck at the auction thanks to an exciting bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals. The 29-year-old, who had an excellent outing with the bat in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, was bought for the inaugural IPL winners for ₹5.8 crore.
Yash Dayal:
Gujarat Titans’ hopes of returning Yash Dayal to their squad were denied by Royal Challengers Bangalore, who splashed ₹5 crore to sign the left-arm pacer. Dayal, who conceded five sixes in an over by Rinku Singh in the IPL 2023 season, had an excellent maiden IPL campaign in 2022, where he took 11 wickets in nine outings for the Ahmedabad-based franchise.
Concluding Thoughts
The 2024 IPL auction was all about Aussie dominance. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Spencer Johnson, and Travis Head received big paychecks. Meanwhile, the auction was a whiff of fresh air for the likes of Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat. Also, the uncapped players who earned big money and grabbed the spotlight must be mentioned. It was a rags-to-riches story for some of these wide-eyed teenagers.
FAQs about 2024 IPL Auction Highlights
1.Who was the most expensive Indian player at the 2024 IPL auction?
Harshal Patel was the most expensive Indian player at the 2024 IPL auction. Punjab Kings bought Harshal for ₹11.75 crore.
2.Who was the most costliest uncapped player at the 2024 IPL Auction?
Uttar Pradesh’s Sameer Rizvi was the most costliest uncapped player at the 2024 IPL auction. Chennai Super Kings paid ₹8.4 crore to secure the services of Rizvi.
3.Has Spencer Johnson played for Australia?
Left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson has played two T20Is and an ODI for Australia.
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