The IPL 2023 Auction has ended with not one but three players breaking the auction’s bidding record. While a total of 405 players were up for the bid, there were plenty of star players that got the spotlight.
Ten teams were vying for their preferred players, and with a maximum of 87 slots, including 30 overseas, the mini-auction was an intense session. Before this auction, former South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris made the record for the most expensive player in auction history in 2021 when Rajasthan Royals shelled out Rs 16.25 crore for his services.
In this year’s auction, England all-rounder Sam Curran broke the record when Punjab Kings brought him for Rs 18.50 crore. When interviewed about joining the Punjab Kings, the player showed plenty of excitement.
“I didn’t sleep much last night, was a bit excited, also nervous about how the auction was going to go. But yeah, absolutely overwhelmed and incredibly humbled that I managed to get what I did. I never had any expectations to receive that. Obviously, going back to where it all started for me in the IPL with Punjab, where I made my debut season four years ago. So, to be going back there seems fantastic and I am looking forward to joining a few English team mates as well” he said.
Curran, who was player of the tournament in England’s T20 World Cup triumph in Australia this year, previously featured for the Punjab Kings in 2019. When questioned about the record purchase, Punjab Kings IPL Director, Ness Wadia simply stated, “He’s one of the best all-rounders”
There were also many comments from others attending the auction on the record bids. Australian cricket coach and former cricketer David John Hussey gave his own opinion on Harry Brook getting signed for such a high bid. He stated in an interview that he believes that the Sunrisers Hyderabad probably overpaid for the player. With such a high bid, Hussey believed the team would miss out on other potential stars.
Before Curran broke the auctions record, batsman Harry Brook became the first millionaire of the day after being signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for 13.25 crore.
Other players who earned the highest bids in the auction were Australian Cameron Green, who joined Mumbai Indians for Rs 17.5 crore and Ben Stokes at Rs 16.25 crore for the Chennai Super Kings.
While there were plenty of players that got sold for a high bid, there were also unsold players. Approximately 95 players were unsold in the auction. Some big names that were unsold were Tabraiz Shami, Chris Jordan, and Rassie van der Dussen.
Meanwhile Bangladeshi duo, Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das were snapped up by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 50 lakhs respectively. KKR also paid Rs 1 crore for Namibian David Wiese.
This year’s auctions mark fifteen seasons that have gone by since the Indian Premier League came into existence. Unlike the previous auction, this year’s auction took place in Kochi and was a mini-auction instead of a mega-auction.
With so many star players signed up with different teams this year, there will be many interesting rosters for the new season.