The 6 Most Expensive Signings at the 2024 IPL Auction

Every Indian Premier League (IPL) auction reshapes the cricket landscape to a degree, but occasionally, a significant bid stops everyone in their tracks and shakes the league's core. Such is the case for the recently concluded and action-packed IPL Auction 2024.

An intense bidding war ensued in IPL 2024 as ten teams fought tooth-and-nail and splashed plenty of resources to snatch the best from the talent pool for the next IPL season. With the dust settled and the bidding wars wrapped up, let's look at the most expensive signings during the IPL auction.

Mitchell Starc – Kolkata Knight Riders

Known for being the fastest bowler to achieve 150 ODI wickets in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc took centre stage during the IPL auction after being bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 24.75 crore or approximately £2,257,000.

Starc came up for bidding in the initial set for the fast bowlers and the fourth set of the day, with Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians expressing keen interest. However, they were overtaken by the Gujarat Titans and the Knight Riders, who were the only franchises with more than INR 30 crore.

In the end, though, the Knight Riders managed to sign Starc, who last featured in an IPL auction in 2018, where Kolkata also signed him for INR 9.4 crore. Starc didn't play for the Knight Riders during that season because of an injury and hasn't played in the IPL since 2015.

Pat Cummins – Sunrisers Hyderabad

Before Starc's record-breaking bid, the Sunrisers Hyderabad spent INR 20.50 crore (around £1,928,000) to sign Australian all-rounder Pat Cummins, fending off competition from Royal Challengers Bangalore. Cummins' previous highest auction price was INR 15.50 crore when the Knight Riders inked him to a deal in 2020.

He skipped the 2023 IPL season to concentrate on international cricket, where he captained Australia to retain the Benaud-Qadir Trophy. While playing internationally, Cummins also notched his second career 10-wicket haul in the Second Test at the MCG, surpassing the 250 dismissal milestone in test cricket.

Cummins is expected to provide the Sunrisers with some offensive firepower heading into the next season. During his last IPL stint with the Knight Riders, Cummins tied the record for the fastest to reach half-century in league history with 50 runs in 14 balls against the Mumbai Indians.

Daryl Mitchell – Chennai Super Kings

Rising New Zealand batting sensation Daryl Mitchell returns to the IPL after the Chennai Super Kings shelled 14 crore or roughly £1,319,000 for his services. The 32-year-old Mitchell played for two years with Rajasthan Royals, but he only suited up twice and recorded 33 runs.

However, he regained his groove during the ODI World Cup in India when he registered 552 runs in 10 games. With the addition of Mitchell, the Super Kings are expected to field seven all-rounders in the playing XI.

Mitchell will be joining the star-studded cast of Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Shivam Dube, and Rachin Ravindra in the elite Super Kings lineup that is looking to defend the title they won last season. At present, online bookmakers have the Super Kings at 5/1 to win IPL 2024 outright.

Harshal Patel – Punjab Kings

Indian fast bowler Harshal Patel is changing scenery after spending the last three seasons with Royal Challengers Bangalore. This is after the Punjab Kings spent 11.75 crore (£1,107,000) to acquire Patel for the IPL 2024 season.

Patel, the highest wicket-taker in the 2021 season, had a tough 2022, with the right-arm bowler only tallying 14 wickets at an economy of 9.66. The Gujarat Titans initiated the bidding war for Patel before the Kings swooped in and closed the deal.

The 33-year-old started his IPL career with Royal Challengers before moving to Delhi Capitals in 2018 and returning to Bangalore in 2021. Despite Patel's addition, popular cricket betting sites have the Kings as one the biggest underdogs in the upcoming season, with IPL odds pegged at 12/1 to win the league.

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Alzarri Joseph – Royal Challengers Bangalore

The Royal Challengers Bangalore made Alzarri Joseph the most expensive West Indian player after it spent 11.5 crores (£1,082,000), to acquire the Antiguan in the IPL auction 2024. The acquisition was a significant milestone as Joseph became the team's first pick in the auction, highlighting their strategic approach to improving its bowling capabilities.

Joseph previously played for the Gujarat Titans before he was released before the auction. While playing for the Titans, he only registered a lacklustre seven wickets with a sky-high economy rate of 9.38.

Regardless, Joseph is expected to provide a needed boost to a Royal Challengers squad, which is currently in the middle of the pack for the title race. As per Bet365, Bangalore is priced at 8/1 to win the IPL 2024 outright.

Spencer Johnson – Gujarat Titans

Australian cricketer Spencer Johnson got the deal of a lifetime after last year's finalist Gujarat Titans spent 10 crore (£942,000) in the IPL auction 2024 to acquire his services. It can be recalled that Johnson was working as a landscape gardener in 2022 before catching the cricket world by storm.

Playing with a chip on his shoulder, Johnson had an incredible 3-1 spell against Phil Salt and Jos Buttler in his UK Hundred debut for the Oval Invincibles. Weeks later, he made his first international appearance for Australia in a T20 International against South Africa before suiting up against India.

Gujarat and the Delhi Capitals had an intense bidding war for Johnson before the former secured the Australian for 20 times the salary of his reserve price. The 28-year-old Johnson is expected to play a significant part in the Titans' bid for a second straight finals appearance. At present, the Titans are the third biggest underdogs to win the title at 11/1 - so load up your cricket betting app and make your picks in time for the big event.

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