Most expensive! Top 5 buys in record-breaking IPL auction mania | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: The 10 franchises went on a shopping spree as the 2023 Indian Premier League auction turned out to be a record-breaking bargain in Kochi on Friday.
International players, the all-rounders in particular, laughed the banks off as franchise owners shelled out millions, without hesitation, to meet the demands and needs of their teams.
It was the perfect time to be an Englishman, as three of the auction’s five biggest buys came from the birthplace of cricket. The mini-auction saw big names attract big money as the bidding process revolved around all players.
Here is an overview of the 5 most expensive purchases in IPL Auction 2023:
Sam Curran (England)
England all-rounder Sam Curran has become the most expensive player in IPL auction history by securing a huge bid of Rs 18.5 crore from Punjab Kings. Curran returned to Punjab for the staggering sum following a fierce three-way bidding war involving Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Punjab.

Australia’s 2022 T20 World Cup Tournament Player of the Tournament, Curran, previously represented Punjab in 2019. “Back to where it all started! Can’t wait to be there,” the 24-year-old tweeted.

Curran’s price has surpassed the previous highest bid of Rs 16.25 crore, paid by the Rajasthan Royals for South African all-rounder Chris Morris in 2021.
cameron green (Australia)
Cameron Green has become the most expensive Australian buy in the IPL Auction story in a salary of Rs 17.5 crore as Mumbai Indians invest in the future. Green passed Pat Cummins, who was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 15.5 crore in 2020.
Green was the second biggest buy in the mini-auction after Sam Curran.
“I pinch myself that this all happened. It’s such a strange feeling to watch an auction for yourself. I can’t believe how nervous I was and was shaking like hell when the final call was confirmed I have always been a huge fan of IPL and it is going to be so cool to be a part of it Mumbai Indians are one of the powerhouses of the competition so I feel very humbled to them I can’t wait to get there next year.” Green said in comments posted by Cricket Australia.

Ben Stokes (England)
Ben Stokes IPL jersey color turned yellow as Chennai Super Kings snapped the England Test captain for Rs 16.25 crore after a fierce bidding battle with Kolkata Knight Riders.
To make up for missing out on Sam Curran, Chennai capped Stokes for the third-highest buy of the day.
With Dhoni in all likelihood set to feature in his final IPL next season and Chennai battling for a lead, the purchase of Stokes is a major boost for the Southern franchise.

Nicholas Poran (West Indies)
Trinidadian swordsman Nicholas Pooran is yet to set the IPL scene on fire with the bat but on Friday he secured the backing of think tank Lucknow Super Giants as they shelled out a whopping Rs 16 crore to buy the former West Indian skipper.
Pooran became the fourth highest buy in the auction of 2023. Entering the bid with a base price of Rs 2 crore, Pooran’s bid invited a first three-way battle with Delhi, Rajasthan and Chennai for the elegant wicket-keeper batsman. But then Lucknow joined late and eventually sealed the deal, outbidding the other franchises.
Last time out, Pooran was bought by Hyderabad at auction for Rs 10.75 crore but released last season after a sub-par show.

Harry Brook (England)
Harry Brook became the first millionaire of the day in IPL 2023 auction as Sunrisers Hyderabad snapped it up for their first buy for Rs 13.25 crore after a one-on-one battle with Rajasthan.
Brook, who made his England T20I and Test debut this year, received a check for more than 8 times his base price of Rs 1.5 crore, becoming the most expensive specialist batsman ever sold at a mini -bid.
Brook recently hit 3 hundreds in as many games, setting a new record for most runs by an England batter in a Test series in Pakistan.