Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie has raised doubts about the hefty Indian Premier League (IPL) price tag for Pat Cummins, stating that T20I cricket may not be the quick bowler's strongest format. However, Gillespie expressed support for Mitchell Starc's remarkable Rs 24.75 crore deal.
Cummins secured the second-highest paycheck in the Dubai auction, with Mumbai Indians (MI), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) engaging in a fierce bidding war. Ultimately, SRH acquired the Australian captain for a substantial Rs 20.50 crore.
"Pat is undoubtedly a top-quality bowler and leader, as we've seen. I just don't believe that T20 is his optimal format," remarked Gillespie on SEN Radio.
"I think he's a Test bowler, personally. I think Test cricket is his absolute bread and butter."
It wasn't the first time that Cummins drew substantial sums at the IPL auction. Before the 2020 edition, KKR had invested Rs 15.5 crore for his services. Cummins boasts a record of 55 wickets in 50 T20I matches with an average of 24.54 and an economy of 7.37 in T20Is.
"He's a good T20 bowler, make no mistake. But that’s massive overs for me," Gillespie added.
Just over an hour after Cummins secured his deal, Starc outpaced his captain to become the most expensive player in IPL history. KKR invested a staggering Rs 24.75 crores for the services of the left-arm pacer.
Starc, typically prioritising international commitments over IPL participation, has appeared in just two seasons of the lucrative league. During this time, he claimed 34 wickets in 27 matches with an average of 20.38.
"I think he’s a great buy. It’s a lot of money, we all acknowledge that, but the IPL is a very rich tournament… I’m absolutely delighted for Mitch.”
"I think it just highlights how important teams value left-arm fast bowling and left-arm swing bowling at pace,” the 48-year-old concluded.
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