The IPL 2024 auction, featuring 333 registered players, concluded with 72 finding buyers among the ten participating franchises.
Held on December 19 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, this mini-auction set the stage for the upcoming tournament. Notably, Pat Cummins fetched an impressive INR 20.50 crore bid from Sunrisers Hyderabad, while Mitchell Starc secured an even higher bid of INR 24.75 crore from Kolkata Knight Riders, breaking the INR 20 Cr barrier in IPL auction history.
These acquisitions marked them as the two most expensive players ever sold. While other players received substantial bids, the reasons behind these purchases remain undisclosed by the franchises.
Gus Atkinson- Worst Buy for KKR in IPL 2024 Auction
In the IPL 2024 auction, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) strategically reinforced their bowling unit, parting ways with Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, and Shardul Thakur beforehand. Their focus on formidable firepower led them to secure Mitchell Starc, making a substantial investment of INR 24.75 Cr. The acquisition of Chetan Sakariya, known for his prowess in death overs, and the addition of backup options in Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Gus Atkinson further strengthened their bowling arsenal.
Also read: Why Rilee Rossouw is the Worst Buy for Punjab Kings in IPL 2024 Auction?
However, the challenge lies in determining Atkinson’s game time amidst strong competition from pace options like Harshit Rana, Sakariya, Vaibhav Arora, Starc, and Andre Russell. The English cricketer may leverage his IPL experience with the KKR squad as an opportunity for personal improvement.