Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell score massive contracts after being picked up in the IPL auction

Pat Cummins became the most expensive overseas player bought at an IPL auction and will rake in double the entire salary cap of a Big Bash team, while dumped ODI star Glenn Maxwell will also earn a big payday. Who scored a contract and who missed out?

Glenn Maxwell has enjoyed a big IPL payday. Picture: Getty Images

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The world’s best fast bowler is now among the richest after Pat Cummins was bought for a massive $3.17 million in a cash splash on Australians in the Indian Premier League auction.

Glenn Maxwell, just days after being left out of the Australian one-day team for matches in India, also earned his biggest ever IPL deal, bought by the Kings XI Punjab, the team he captained in 2017, for $2.2 million.

Maxwell was among a host of Australians who skipped the IPL this year to focus on the World Cup and Ashes campaigns.

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Glenn Maxwell was snapped up in the IPL auction. Picture: AAP Images

But with a limited amount of international cricket to be played over the Australian winter, most, except pace spearhead Mitchell Starc, threw their names in to the auction pool this year and reaped the rewards.

Cummins was the most expensive player in the auction, his price falling just shy of Indian captain Virat Kohli’s record of $3.4 million set at last year’s auction.

But Cummins’ deal was the biggest ever for an Australian and dwarfs the $2.2 million both Steve Smith and David Warner will earn as captains of Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively.

Two outstanding gentlemen will return to @KKRiders! @Eoin16 with his power middle order game & outstanding leadership help for @DineshKarthik & one of the games premier fast bowlers @patcummins30 who I feel was the best player on offer for this years @IPL auction Welcome boys! 💪🏻

— Brendon McCullum (@Bazmccullum) December 19, 2019

Good nights shopping for us @KKRiders Some outstanding Indian players that all of which we were targeting prior!Add our overseas picks of @patcummins30 @Eoin16 @chrisgreen_93 & Tom Banton to our existing list of quality players & it’s fair to say us coaches are very happy!@IPL 💪🏻

— Brendon McCullum (@Bazmccullum) December 19, 2019

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Cummins will play for Kolkata Knight Riders under new coach Brendon McCullum, and will earn double the entire salary cap of a Big Bash team, which is $1.8 million.

While he was fielding at Geelong, Australian white-ball captain Aaron Finch was sold to the Royal Challengers Bangalore for $900,000, while Brisbane Heat captain Chris Lynn scored a $400,000 deal with the Mumbai Indians.

The 2020 IPL runs from April through May, with each team playing 14 games.

Cummins could earn about $225,000 a match, or just under $10,000 a ball if he bowls four overs in every game.

But more than 20 Australians missed out in the auction, including last season’s highest Big Bash scorer D’Arcy Short.

Test pair Matthew Wade, who also dominated the BBL last season, and James Pattinson were also overlooked.

Short scored 637 runs in BBL08 at an average of 53.08 and strikerate of 140.61.

Hobart Hurricanes teammate Wade was second behind Short with 592 runs at a strike rate of 146.89

Australian one-day squad members Adam Zampa, Sean Abbott, Ashton Turner and Ashton Agar missed out, as well as Australian T20 player Ben McDermott.

Abbott took the second most BBL wickets last season.

Originally published as Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell score massive contracts after being picked up in the IPL auction