Harry Brook signed by Delhi Capitals for around £380,000 in IPL auction in Dubai; Mitchell Starc becomes most expensive player in tournament's history as Kolkata Knight Riders swoop in 2.32m deal; Chris Woakes among English players acquired but Phil Salt and Adil Rashid unsold
Tuesday 19 December 2023 19:40, UK
England's Harry Brook has been signed by Delhi Capitals in the IPL auction with Australia's Mitchell Starc becoming the most expensive player in history.
Brook, back in the auction pool after being released by Sunrisers Hyderabad after the 2023 season, had a base price of two crore rupees (£190,000) and was the subject of a bidding war between Capitals and Rajasthan Royals.
The 24-year-old was eventually snapped up by Delhi for four crore rupees (£380,000), which was considerably lower than the 13.25 crore he was purchased for by Sunrisers in last year's auction.
Australia captain Pat Cummins became the most expensive signing in the history of the IPL when Sunrisers came through a lengthy bidding battle to claim the Australia captain for 20.5 crore rupees (£1.945m), with Cummins' purchase eclipsing the 18.5 crore Punjab Kings paid for England all-rounder Sam Curran last year.
However, Cummins' Australia team-mate Starc smashed that fee a couple of hours later when Kolkata Knight Riders paid 24.5 crore rupees (£2.32m) for the left-arm fast bowler, who has not played in the IPL for eight years.
Chris Woakes had the same base price as Brook and attracted bids from both Kolkata and Punjab, who eventually signed him for 4.2 crore rupees (£400,000).
Woakes' fellow all-rounders Tom Curran and David Willey were among the later names to be sold as they were bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants respectively.
Curran fetched £142,000 while Willey - who retired from international cricket after the recent 50-over World Cup in India - was signed for £189,000.
Seam bowler Gus Atkinson, who made his England debut last summer, will join Kolkata after being bought for £94,000, while uncapped Somerset batter Tom Kohler-Cadmore was purchased by Rajasthan for £38,000.
Phil Salt, Adil Rashid and Tymal Mills were among the English players to go unsold.
Nine England players were already contracted having been retained for the 2024 campaign, including white-ball skipper Jos Buttler (Rajasthan), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran and Jonny Bairstow (all Punjab Kings), plus Reece Topley and Will Jacks (both Bangalore).
Moeen Ali (Chennai), Jason Roy (Kolkata) and Mark Wood (Lucknow Super Giants) have also been kept on.
Elsewhere in Tuesday's auction, Sunrisers splurged on Travis Head, purchasing the batter and occasional off-spinner for around £645,000, while Chennai forked out £1.3m on New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell.
Chennai also acquired Mitchell's Black Caps team-mate Rachin Ravindra for 170,000, while Australian left-arm quick Spencer Johnson was snapped up by Gujarat Titans for £944,000.
RCB purchased West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph for £1.1m and his international colleague Rovman Powell went to Rajasthan for £702,000.
The 2024 IPL is set to run across March and May.
