Seven World Cup-winning Australians look to cash in big at IPL auction

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Seven of Australia’s one-day international World Cup-winning squad are hoping to cash in at this month’s Indian Premier League “mini auction”, and use next year’s tournament as preparation for the Twenty20 World Cup.

Captain Pat Cummins, batting hero Travis Head, veteran batsman Steve Smith, fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, wicketkeeper Josh Inglis and fast bowler Sean Abbott, the latter did not play in the World Cup final, are among 25 players who have nominated themselves in the highest base price of $363,000 for the IPL auction.

Up for grabs: World Cup winning captain Pat Cummins is ready to return to India, this time to take part in the Indian Premier League.Credit: AP

The auction will be held on December 19 in Dubai, the first time it has been held outside of India. As there are many players already retained by their franchises, including Australian stars David Warner, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Marsh, Cameron Green, Matthew Wade and Glenn Maxwell, this instalment is seen by club officials as a “mini auction” – although there will be nothing mini about the size of many of the contracts signed.

The 10 franchises have 77 overall spots to fill, including a maximum of 30 overseas players.

Head is expected to be a man in demand, for he was the player of the match in the semi-final win over South Africa, and again in the final against India, when his robust century dragged Australia to victory.

The left-hander has not played in the world’s premier domestic Twenty20 competition since 2017, when he lined up with Royal Challengers Bangalore. That he was able to handle India’s fast bowlers and spinners so well under intense pressure in the World Cup final could result in him securing one of the highest salaries.

Starc has not played in the IPL since 2015 when he also played for RCB. It’s estimated he has left more than $10 million on the table from not playing in the years since, at times because of injury and prioritising time at home.

He was drafted by the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018, but missed the entire tournament because of injury. This led to a protracted legal battle with an insurance firm, an issue settled in 2020.

The pace ace has said he wants to return for next year’s instalment as part of his preparation for the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the US.

Cummins, with his responsibilities as captain and fast bowler, will need to have his workload managed, but Australia have a relatively light international schedule in 2024.

After a block of seven Tests – three at home against Pakistan, beginning this month, and two against West Indies, with two then on the road in New Zealand in February – Australia will not have a Test series until India’s tour here next summer. Australia’s major winter focus will be the Twenty20 World Cup.

Cummins opted out of his $1.34 million IPL contract with the Knight Riders this year because of his heavy international schedule, which had the world Test championship, the Ashes and 50-over World Cup as his priorities, but he is now keen to return, having inked a record deal of $3.17 million in 2019.

“I feel like I haven’t played a heap of T20 cricket and in some ways I feel like I haven’t played my best T20 cricket for a little while,” Cummins said last month.

Smith opted out of last year’s auction because of a heavy international workload, and has not played in the IPL since 2021. He was overlooked in the 2022 mega auction, and has worked hard to adopt a more high-octane approach with bat in hand in the sport’s bite-sized format.

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