Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra had some strong opinions regarding the staggering amounts fetched by Australian pacers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the IPL 2024 auction. Starc broke records as the most expensive player in IPL history with a bid of Rs 24.75 crore, closely followed by Cummins at Rs 20.50 crore.
Chopra expressed his concern about these massive paychecks, comparing them unfavorably to players like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, emphasizing their potential to break records if they were to enter the auction pool.
He highlighted the significant disparity in remuneration, citing that while Starc might cost Rs 7,60,000 per ball if he bowls his full quota in all 14 games, Bumrah, considered one of the world’s best bowlers, is earning substantially less at Rs 12 crore. Chopra emphasized that this imbalance in earnings doesn’t seem fair.
To address this discrepancy, Chopra proposed implementing a cap on spending for foreign players. He suggested that a certain portion of the team’s purse should be designated for Indian players and another for foreign players, aiming to bring about parity in earnings between domestic and international players.
Chopra pointed out that there seemed to be an imbalance in Cummins’ value at Rs 20.50 crore, particularly if Sunrisers Hyderabad were not considering him for captaincy, given his past IPL performances.
His views shed light on the financial disparities in the IPL and urged for a more equitable compensation structure, emphasizing the need for fair valuation based on a player’s worth and performance rather than inflated market dynamics.
