12 Australian players and their IPL contracts

By New Year’s eve IPL teams had to confirm their preliminary squads for the upcoming season, which required them to decide which players to retain under their current contract terms. And that is what saw 101 players being retained and 61 players were released by the six IPL franchises ahead of the upcoming season. Aussie players have always enhanced the excitement of the franchises and as many as six players from Down Under are going into IPL 2016 season with contracts in excess of a million dollars. 1. Mitchell Johnson (KXIP) – $1.34m: Mitchell Johnson. (Photo Source: BCCI) After success in the Ashes, owners of the Kings XI Punjab decided to hand Johnson a massive payday as he was bought for $1.15m. Despite an underwhelming performance last season, picking up just 9 wickets from 9 games, he still got retained for a whopping sum of $1.34m. Johnson’s decision to retire from international cricket seems to have had an influence on this decision. 2. Glenn Maxwell (KXIP) – $1.24m: Glenn Maxwell. (Photo Source: BCCI) The Big Show announced himself in the 2014 edition of the IPL when he dished out explosive performances one after another. He was already a millionaire in 2013 when Mumbai bagged him for a surprisingly high amount of $1.117m. Next season Punjab got hold of him at a price of $1.06m. The kind of reputation this guy possesses, no wonder franchises want to stick with him. 3. David Warner (SRH) – $1.14m: David Warner SRH. (Photo Source: BCCI) It’s a dream for any team to have an opener of the caliber of David Warner. Hyderabad fetched him in 2014 for $978,000. He was last season’s highest run-getter with 562 runs at a ridiculous strike-rate of 156.54. There was no way Sunrisers Hyderabad were letting go this man as his salary finally puts him in the million dollar club. 4. Steven Smith (Pune) – $1.14m: Steven Smith. (Photo Source: BCCI) The ICC Cricketer of the year and the Test cricketer of the year is in a rich vein of form, and every franchise would love to pay good money to have him. He led Rajasthan through to the eliminator last year and has been a proven skipper for his country as well. Pune roped him in the IPL draft and will pay him $1.14m. 5. James Faulkner (Rajkot) -$1.14m: James Faulkner. (Photo Source: BCCI) He was another vital cog in the wheel for the Rajasthan Royals. The Aussie all-rounder Faulkner is a proven match winner in the limited over format for some time now. He too found a new home, as Rajkot picked him up in the Draft and will pay him the same as Smith $1.14m. 6. Mitchell Starc (RCB) – $1.03m: Mitchell Starc. (Photo Source:BCCI) Having been cleared to play in this year’s IPL, Starc must have had to prove his fitness regarding his ankle injury prior to the World T20. Starc was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore last year at an amount of $889,000. This price was a reward for his stellar performances in the World Cup. He didn’t disappoint his IPL team either as he picked up 20 wickets at 14.55 with an economy of 6.76. As a result, he has been retained for a lucrative amount this year. 7. Nathan-Coulter Nile (DD) – $879,000: Nathan Coulter-Nile DD. (Photo Source: BCCI) This Aussie all-rounder had a wretched month of December. What was supposed to be his Test debut on boxing day, didn’t go down so well as he missed out due to injury. Things ended on a better note as Delhi decided to extend his contract. He now is going to receive a hefty sum of $879,000 for the upcoming season. 8. Shaun Marsh (KXIP) – $455,000: Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh. (Photo Source: BCCI) Marsh has been part of the Punjab franchise from the very beginning. He lit the stage on fire in the first season finishing as the highest run scorer. Since then he has been in and out of the team due to the presence of quality overseas players in their ranks. Despite all of that, the owners have shown faith in him and decided to retain him for a handsome amount of $455,000. 9. Chris Lynn (KKR) – $269,000: Chris Lynn. (Photo by Will Russell – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images) Lynn is yet another Aussie who hasn’t been a constant member in his team. Chris showcased his skills at some stages at whatever opportunities he got at KKR. The team management must have seen his current form for the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League. This could be a major decision behind retaining him for the upcoming season. His contract now stands at $269,000. 10. Moises Henriques (SRH) – $207,000: Moises Henriques. (Photo Source: BCCI) A renowned T20 specialist, Henriques has been part of several T20 leagues. He has previously played for Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore. His all-round skills with bat and ball always keeps franchises interested. As a result, he has been retained for a sum of $207,000. 11. Brad Hogg (KKR) – $103,000: Brad Hogg KKR. (Photo Source: BCCI) The veteran Aussie chinaman has defied age as he still continues to be an asset for teams in the shortest format of the game. Kolkata’s love story with spin has definitely worked in favour of Hogg as he has been retained to represent KKR for the second year running. He showed his class last season as well by picking up wickets at crucial junctures. He will receive $103,000 for the upcoming season. 12. Travis Head (DD) – $62,000: Travis Head. (© Getty Images) Head has been the biggest bargain, as Delhi Daredevils decided to retain him. He hit the nail on its head by striking an amazing ton in the BBL match on the last day of the IPL trading window and probably that prompted DD to retain him. Provided what he produced for Adelaide in the Big Bash League on New Year’s eve with his belligerent ton, it seems to be great call by the Delhi franchise. (Also read: Vivo IPL 2016: Teams, players retained, released and purse balance)