Indian Premier League auction: Josh Hazlewood’s $4m snub as World Cup winners Smith, Inglis unsold

As pace allies Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc shattered records with insane paydays at the IPL auction, but plenty of Aussies were left with no offer at all.

Mitchell Starc has sacrificed up to $15 million putting family and country first. Now it is Josh Hazlewood’s turn.

While Starc and Pat Cummins obliterated Indian Premier League records at Tuesday night’s auction with their combined $8 million payday, their fast bowling comrade Hazlewood went unsold.

At first glance it was eyebrow raising given Hazlewood has arguably been the pick of the trio in T20 cricket over the past few years.

But there was good reason for the surprising lack of bidders on one of the most consistent and reliable cricketers of his generation.

Hazlewood is due to become a father at the end of March and was upfront in telling his former IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore and other teams that he would be missing the first part of the 2024 tournament.

Josh Hazlewood lost his contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore after telling them of his baby plans. Picture: AFP

It cost him his contract at RCB and no one lifted the paddle for him in Dubai, while the bidding frenzy was exploding all around him.

In truth, Hazlewood never expected to be picked up on Tuesday night and only entered the auction because that’s the only way to be picked up as a replacement player once the mega tournament gets under way next year.

Given Big Bash rookie quick Spencer Johnson went for a whopping $1.78 million at the auction, and Starc created history with his $4.42 million price – it’s safe to assume Hazlewood’s family first decision to take paternity leave has cost him between $2 and $4 million.

But Halzewood wouldn’t have it any other way.

For the greats of the game, the big IPL money will always be there – but as Starc has discovered during his eight-year absence from India, moments in time with family are priceless.

Starc has prioritised the IPL window as important time with wife Alyssa Healy who is also constantly on the road with her duties as captain of the Australian women’s team.

Missing the IPL over the past eight years has also helped Starc enhance his Test career for Australia and it will likely see him become one of the rare fast bowlers to reach 100 Test matches for his country.

Mitchell Starc skipped the IPL in recent years – before cashing in with a $4m payday this week. Picture: AFP

Starc has no regrets and neither will Hazlewood.

“I’ve probably prioritised international cricket firstly for a long time whilst having a bit of a taste of IPL and Big Bash in Australia,” Starc told Star Sports in India.

“I’ve always held firm that I’ve wanted to play my best cricket for Australia and make myself available for Australia where I can. At the same time, the temptation to go back to IPL and how exciting it is to be involved in such a great tournament, big names, big players, big stages – it’s too hard to pass up.

“There’s a place to play all of it. It’s just being mindful and putting the work ethic in to be able to do all of it.”

Famous football coaches used to instruct their players to make sure they weren’t expecting children around September.

But in this brave new cricketing world it’s impossible to find the perfect time – between representing your country and the life-altering millions on offer in India.

Life must still happen.

Hazlewood rebuilt what seemed a fading T20 career with a couple of blockbusting years in the IPL and because of his performance and honesty about his family priorities for next season, it won’t be long until there’s another multimillion-dollar offer sitting in front of him.

Originally published as Indian Premier League auction: Josh Hazlewood’s $4m snub as World Cup winners Smith, Inglis unsold