Sum Curran

Ben Stokes fetched Rs 16.25cr (left) Sam Curran (right) Cameron Green. Pics/Getty Images, AFP

England all-rounder Sam Curran on Friday became the most expensive player in the history of IPL auctions after fetching a whopping Rs 18.5 crore bid from Punjab Kings here.

An intense bidding followed for Curran with Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings raising their paddles frenetically to secure the services of T20 World Cup player-of-the tournament.

Also Read: Sam Curran become costliest buy at IPL auction, fetches Rs 18.5 crore bid from Punjab Kings

In the end, it was Punjab Kings that broke the bank to get Curran, who drew the highest-ever bid that bettered the previous best buy of Rs 16.25 crore that Rajasthan Royals had shelled out to grab South African all-rounder Chris Morris in 2021.

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green was second-highest earner, fetching Rs 17.5 crore bid from Mumbai Indians. "I am pinching myself that this has all happened. It's such a weird feeling watching an auction for yourself. I can't believe how nervous I was. I was shaking like anything when the final call was confirmed," Green told Star Sports.

"I've always been a huge fan of the IPL and it's going to be so cool to be a part of it. The Mumbai Indians are one of the powerhouses of the competition so I feel very humbled to be joining them. I can't wait to get there next year."

Also Read: Ben Stokes drops a hint he could come out of ODI retirement for 50-over World Cup next year: Report

England Test skipper Ben Stokes was the third-highest gainer, fetching Rs 16.25 crore from CSK who pipped Sunrisers Hyderabad in another intense bidding war. England players were in demand as batter Harry Brook earned a Rs 13.25 crore winning from Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Brook, who struck three hundreds in as many games and set a new record for most runs by an England batter in a Test series in Pakistan, started at a base price of R1.5 crore. The bidding for Brook was mainly between SRH and Rajasthan Royals.

Top 5 buys

Rs 18.50cr
Sam Curran (Punjab Kings)

Rs 17.50cr
Cameron Green (Mumbai Indians)

Rs 16.25cr
Ben Stokes (Chennai Super Kings)

Rs 16cr
Nicholas Pooran (Lucknow Super Giants)

Rs 13.25cr
Harry Brook (Sunrisers Hyderabad)