Daniel Vettori explains logic behind SRH signing Pat Cummins

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) spent INR 20.5 crore on Australia captain Pat Cummins, making him the first player to fetch a bid of 20 crore or more in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction. 

SRH went toe-to-toe with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), but eventually, it was SRH who procured Cummins' services. 

Speaking of the strategy behind the move, SRH head coach Daniel Vettori said, “Someone else desperately wanted him as well. That’s why he got pushed to that high number. Because our team is relatively settled and we have the budget, and we have already picked up Travis and Hasaranga, we felt like we’d covered most things that we wanted at the auction, so we had the ability to spend that much.”

Punjab Kings (PBKS) co-owner Preity Zinta expressed surprise over the fact that Harshal Patel was released. Her side bought the pacer for INR 11.75 crore from a base price of INR 2 crore. "I was very surprised that Harshal Patel was released," she said on the sidelines of the auction in Dubai. 

Moments after Cummins secured a big fat contract, his international bowling partner Mitchell Starc was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 24.75 crore. Sam Curran was the most expensive player in the IPL at INR 18.5 crore when PBKS bought him last season.