Pat Cummins justifies the price tag: Eoin Morgan

Appearing on JioCinema’s ‘Match Center Live Auction Special’ during the IPL 2024 Player Auction on Tuesday, JioCinema IPL experts analysed some of the top bids in the first set of players who went under the gavel.

Excerpts:

Parthiv Patel on Rovman Powell, who went to Rajasthan Royals for Rs 7.4 crore

Powell’s was the first name at the auction. So, we got to see something different. You don’t get to see such excitement at the start itself. But with Powell, that happened. Timing plays a crucial role. Franchises are not wanting to wait and watch. If they find someone who can secure their expectations, they go for him. If he was not available, then maybe they would have targeted someone else.

Muttiah Muralitharan on Travis Head, who went for Rs 6.8 crore to SRH

We really wanted him (Travis Head) because we needed an opening left-handed batter. Adding to that he can bowl spin as well. I never thought we would get him for that price because of his performance being tremendous in the last couple of years in T20Is and ODIs for Australia. So, we were waiting for this, and we thought that we would have a tough fight with a lot of teams but in the end, CSK came and fought with us. But we knew they don’t need a frontline player as they have Devon Conway, so they will stop somewhere.

Eoin Morgan on Harry Brook going to DC for Rs 4 crore

For me, he (Harry Brook) is more of a middle-order batter. Like AB de Villiers mentioned the fitness levels around Anrich Nortje might be dependent on the balance of their side, they have the likes of Lungi Ngidi who can come in as a replacement but that might depend on the pitch conditions as well. But I probably see Brook playing in the middle-order, I think Delhi won’t suit him as much as other places in India but 4 cr for a quality player like him is a bargain.

Eoin Morgan on Pat Cummins, who went to SRH for Rs 20.5 crore

The player that Pat Cummins is and considering the last year-and-a-half that he has had, both with leadership and as a bowler with the World Test Championship winning side, retaining the Ashes in England during the English summer and then leading the Australian ODI team to another ODI World Cup. So, recent form and confidence is a huge contributing factor. It’s also a demand-supply issue. There are quite a few teams looking for leadership roles to be fulfilled not only as captain but also in the changing room. So Pat Cummins thoroughly justifies his price tag.

Anil Kumble on Cummins

That’s a really high price. Rs 20 crores wasn’t expected. We knew he’d go for a higher price but Rs 20 crore, it’s created a record. SRH is perhaps looking for a captain and that could be the reason why we see the desperation to get in. Perhaps RCB were also looking at a long-term captain. Good luck to Pat Cummins. Three trophies, but this would probably take the icing on the cake.