The IPL 2020 auction took place in Kolkata on December 19th and followed the expected trends of the market. Teams were primarily scouting for explosive batsmen and overseas fast bowlers to strengthen their rosters. Pat Cummins emerged as the star attraction, fetching a record-breaking Rs 15.50 crore for an overseas player. In the broader history of the IPL, this makes him the third most expensive player overall, following Virat Kohli (Rs 17 crore) and Yuvraj Singh (Rs 16 crore).
The IPL 2020 auction in Kolkata on 19th Dec went on expected lines. Overseas fast bowlers were in requiring as also the big-hitters. In addition all franchise was looking to add other countries fast bowler. Slightly wonder then that Cummins, the high valued asset of the auction, was hold for Rs 15.50 crore. It’s an IPL record for a other country players and 3rd most expensive in the overall list after retaining captain Kohli for the amount Rs 17 crore and Rs 16 crore is auction value for Yuvraj Singh.
The Delhi Capitals were active in the hunt for international pace talent, engaging in a bidding war before eventually stepping back. Royal Challengers Bangalore were also keen on adding a high-impact bowler to address a long-standing weakness in their squad, but they stopped their pursuit at Rs 14.75 crore. It was clear that the Kolkata Knight Riders were the most determined to bring Cummins on board.
KKR managed to secure the player by making a strategic, late entry into the bidding process—essentially winning the battle in the 'slog overs' of the auction. They stepped in after the price had already climbed to Rs 14.75 crore. Cummins noted that the determination of KKR's coach, Brendon McCullum, played a significant role in the move.
Venky Mysore, the franchise CEO, elaborated on their auction strategy, suggesting that had they been as certain about a player's fit or history with the team, they would have acted sooner. It was evident that multiple franchises were waiting for the first real opportunity to snap him up.
In the modern game, quality fast bowlers are highly prized. While India produces a significant number of them, the top Indian pacers are already locked into long-term deals with their respective franchises. Consequently, the scarcity of available top-tier talent drove the prices of overseas bowlers sky-high, a classic example of supply and demand economics.
Cummins wasn't the only one to command a premium. RCB, having lost out on Cummins, spent lavishly on South African all-rounder Chris Morris, paying Rs 10 crore despite a base price of only Rs 1.5 crore. Similarly, KXIP spent a massive Rs 8.5 crore on Sheldon Cottrell—17 times his base price. While Cottrell is new to the IPL unlike Cummins or Morris, his strong performance in the limited-overs series in India and the advantage of being a left-arm pacer made him a highly attractive prospect.