Former South African superstar and ex-captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), AB de Villiers, recently commented on the financial aspect of Sam Curran's contract with Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League. During a Q&A session on his YouTube channel, de Villiers expressed his opinion that Curran, an all-rounder for Punjab Kings, has been receiving a disproportionately high payment for his performances in recent years.
"I don't like to be controversial. But, in my opinion, he's been overpaid for quite a few years now. He's not a bad player; I like him. He's had a fantastic World Cup, but that's quite a few years back. I don't think he's had a very good IPL recently. Also, for England, he hasn't played exceptionally well," said De Villiers.
Curran, who was secured by Punjab Kings for a record-breaking Rs 18.50 crore during the IPL 2023 mini-auction, has been a subject of debate regarding his valuation in the league. De Villiers pointed out that despite the substantial investment, Curran's contributions have not been particularly extraordinary, both for England and in the IPL. In the 2023 IPL season, Curran managed to score 276 runs and took 10 wickets, but Punjab Kings finished eighth in the points table, which might not align with the expectations set by his high price tag.
The South African cricket icon acknowledged Curran's talents, describing him as a wonderful player. However, de Villiers suggested that Punjab Kings could have considered releasing Curran to free up funds for the IPL 2024 auction. This strategy could have allowed the franchise to explore new talents and possibly strengthen the team in different areas.
"He can turn things around like most world class players can. Nothing against Sam Curran. I still think he's a wonderful player. I just think he's been overpaid for a few years. Maybe it would have been a good move for them to let him go to open up some funds to buy different players," De Villiers added.
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