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Last night 405 players held their breath as the IPL auction 2023 got underway in Kochi, India. Just a few hours later, new millionaires were minted, while the dreams of some were crushed as well. Here’s everything you need to know about what went down at the IPL auction 2023 this Friday.
Records Shattered Left, Right and Centre at the IPL Auction 2023
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Prior to this event, the highest amount paid for an IPL player at auction had been the INR 16.25 crore the Rajasthan Royals paid for Chris Morris in 2022. Last night alone, three players went for that price or higher. To say that the IPL auction 2023 was historic would be an understatement.
Chennai Super Kings Buy Ben Stokes for INR 16.25 Crore
Equalling the record heading into this auction, Ben Stokes was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for a whopping INR 16.25 crore. Since Dwayne Bravo retired and left the men in yellow, CSK have been lacking a big hitting all-rounder. The addition of Ben Stokes patches this hole in their squad, and also brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the team. It’s no wonder Stokes went for such a big price tag—he’s the hottest thing in cricket at the moment as captain of England’s Test cricket team with their dazzling Bazball approach.
Mumbai Indians Buy Cameron Green for INR 17.50 Crore
It’s no secret that all-rounders attract big money in the IPL. Cameron Green is no exception, with the 23-year-old Australian being able to bat anywhere in the order and score at a high strike rate, as well as send down some handy medium pace bowling. While the Mumbai Indians tried to bid on several other big name all-rounders, they found success with Cameron Green, who has risen in popularity this year following a successful series against India prior to the T20 World Cup 2022.
Punjab Kings Buy Sam Curran for INR 18.50 Crore
The biggest purchase of the night, and in all of IPL history, went to the Punjab Kings as they claimed Sam Curran for INR 18.40 crore. Curran is about as good as it gets when it comes to T20 players—he recently won both Player of the Tournament and Player of the Final at the T20 World Cup 2022, courtesy of his incredibly economical bowling and knack for taking wickets. Add to this his consistent ability to strike over 150, and it’s no wonder that Curran has such a high price tag.
Bazball Leads to England Shining at the IPL Auction 2023
England have taken the cricketing world by storm over the last year, transforming Test cricket with their ultra-aggressive, rockstar-esque approach to the game. This Bazball style has flowed on to benefit the players themselves financially, with several of the English Test side landing big contracts at the IPL auction 2023. Other than the two already mentioned—Sam Curran and Ben Stokes—here are the others who have made the money this year:
- Joe Root (INR 1 crore)
- Adil Rashid (INR 2 crore)
- Reece Topley (INR 1.9 crore)
- Phil Salt (INR 2 crore)
- Harry Brook (INR 13.25 crore)
Time will tell whether those bought from the English side have enough steam to keep going at full steam ahead in the IPL 2023, or whether they will use this time to relax their approach to the game slightly after a successful season of Test cricket.
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