IPL 2020 auction: Pat Cummins breaks record; Ricky Ponting’s prediction comes true

The 26-year-old Pat Cummins returned to KKR as the franchise won a fierce bidding battle to sign the right-arm quick for a whopping Rs 15.5 crore at the IPL 2020 players auction in Kolkata

Kolkata: Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins shattered IPL auction record as he attracted a huge bid from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the IPL 2020 players auction in Kolkata on Thursday (December 19).

The 26-year-old Cummins returned to KKR as the franchise won a fierce bidding battle to sign the right-arm quick for a whopping Rs 15.5 crore.

This huge amount saw Cummins becoming the costliest overseas player in the history of IPL. Earlier, the record belonged to England all-rounder Ben Stokes at Rs 14.50 crore.

Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting had predicted big money for Cummins and it came true. “There's going to be a lot of focus and attention on fast bowlers, overseas ones in particular. Pat Cummins could go for big money, as could Chris Woakes,” Ponting had said before the auction.

“All-rounders are always interesting in my opinion. Players like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme could all be big picks,” he added.

So far, Cummins has played 28 Tests, 58 ODIs and 25 T20Is for Australia. Previously he had played for KKR, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils.

Costliest IPL bids at auctions

Rs 16 crore — Yuvraj Singh (Delhi Daredevils - 2015)

Rs 15.5 crore — Pat Cummins (Kolkata Knight Riders - 2020)

Rs 14.5 crore — Ben Stokes (Rising Pune Supergiants - 2017)

Rs 14 crore — Yuvraj (Royal Challengers Bangalore - 2014)

Rs 12.5 crore — Dinesh Karthik (Delhi Daredevils - 2014)

Rs 12.5 crore — Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals - 2018)

Rs 12 crore — Tymal Mills (Royal Challengers Bangalore - 2017)