'Back to where it all started' - Sam Curran reacts after Punjab Kings snap him for astonishing INR 18.5 crore

Punjab Kings made the headlines by spending a record INR 18.50 crore to sign Sam Curran in the IPL 2023 mini-auction on Friday (December 23). The English all-rounder was the Player of the Tournament at the 2022 T20 World Cup and was expected to bag the biggest deal on auction day. Punjab Kings, Curran's first IPL team, won the bid after a fierce battle with Mumbai Indians to make Curran the most expensive purchase in IPL history.

PBKS welcomed him with an old picture during his previous stint with the franchise. Reacting to the same, Curran wrote, "Back to where it all started! Looking forward to it." 

The 24-year-old star first joined PBKS during the IPL 2019 auction for INR 7.20 crore. He made the headlines after taking a hat-trick against Delhi Capitals in 2019, however, he was released by the franchise ahead of the 2020 season. 

Curran has established himself as one of the best bowling all-rounders in the format with impressive performances in 2022. He took 13 wickets from just six innings at the T20 World Cup 2022 and currently ranks fifth in the current ICC T20I Bowler's chart. His ability of picking wickets in death overs makes him an invaluable asset to Punjab Kings squad, who also have the likes of Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings released Caribbean all-rounder Odean Smith ahead of the IPL 2023 auction and added Curran and Sikandar Raza at his place. Ness Wadia, the co-owner at PBKS, termed Curran as a "world class" talent and said that the player adds balance to their squad.

"It’s about having the right balance, so far so good, and fingers crossed. It’s lovely to have Sam back. We had him bat 7-7.5 a few years ago and then Chennai had him. These top-up auctions are always dynamic. Sam is world class, is 24, played over 140 matches so far. And happy to have Raza with us, it’s good to have a Zimbabwean in the IPL," Wadia said.