Anil Kumble Expresses Amazement at IPL 2024 Auction Splurge on Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, Raises Eyebrows at Skyrocketing Bids.
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| "IPL 2024 Auction Unleashes Cricket Frenzy: Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins Rewrite History, Sending Shockwaves in the Cricketing Realm! (Image Credits: Twitter)" |
In a surprising turn of events at the IPL 2024 auction, former Indian Test captain Anil Kumble expressed astonishment as Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins shattered all previous records by fetching staggering sums, leaving the likes of Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah seemingly hard done by.
Kumble, once a stalwart of Indian cricket, admitted that he had never anticipated the IPL breaking the ₹20 crore barrier. The renowned leg-spinner was taken aback as Cummins became the costliest player in the history of IPL auctions, securing a jaw-dropping ₹20.25 crore bid from the SunRisers Hyderabad. However, the record was short-lived, as Starc, in a whirlwind auction, surpassed it within an hour, commanding a whopping ₹24.75 crore from the Kolkata Knight Riders.
While the cricketing world marveled at the unprecedented bids for these Australian pacers, Kumble voiced concerns about the astronomical figures. The former captain argued that with only four overseas players allowed in the Playing XI out of a squad of 25, it would be fairer to cap the salary of overseas players at 40 or 45 percent of the overall team budget.
Kumble emphasized the high-quality talent among Indian players, citing examples like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, who earned slightly less than ₹20 crore in comparison. The legendary leg-spinner suggested that such exorbitant amounts for overseas players might not be justified given the limited number of spots available for them in the playing lineup.
As the cricketing fraternity processes the seismic shift in IPL auction dynamics, Kumble's perspective adds an intriguing layer to the conversation, questioning the rationale behind the record-breaking bids for Starc and Cummins and its implications on the balance of team dynamics.
