Australia star Travis Head set to cash in on World Cup win at IPL auction along with Pat Cummins

The last time Travis Head played in the IPL, he was used as a lookalike decoy to stop fans from mobbing superstar AB de Villiers. Now he’s about to cash in with his own mega deal.

Travis Head is set to go from anonymous stunt double to the Indian Premier League’s newest millionaire superstar.

The Australian World Cup hero will throw his hat in the ring for next month’s IPL auction at a time when he could virtually name his own asking price.

When Head last appeared in the IPL in 2017, his primary role for Royal Challengers Bangalore was as a decoy so lookalike AB de Villiers could exit restaurants out the back door without being mobbed.

Now Head is the main attraction.

Head delivered when Australia needed him most to help seal a shock World Cup win. Picture: Getty

After his semi-final and final man-of-the-match double in India, clubs are expected to clamour over themselves to make the opener an IPL millionaire at the auction in Dubai on December 19, on top of his seven-figure Cricket Australia salary.

“In no time at all he has become one of the most dangerous batters in the world, proving that you can improve over time,” former England captain Michael Vaughan wrote in The UK Telegraph.

“Years ago, there was potential, but he wasn’t consistently dangerous. His method now is the blueprint for sustained aggression, and how to dictate terms.

“My guess is that he might get a rather large IPL contract – and he should.”

Travis Head also blasted a crucial century against New Zealand. Picture: Getty

Despite only being a mini-auction as opposed to the two-day mega ones that happen once every four years, the smaller drafts have historically facilitated some of the biggest cash splurges.

That happened in December last year when England’s Sam Curran became the richest player in IPL history. Punjab paid more than $3.5 million for his services.

Each team will have a purse of more than $18 million to build their 2024 squads but how much they have to spend at the auction day depends on how many players they decide to release from their rosters beforehand.

Punjab Kings, who are coached by Australian Trevor Bayliss, have the most freed-up cash with $2.2 million before making any personnel cuts.

Australian quicks Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are also set to enter the auction.

Pat Cummins is also expected to put his hand up for the IPL auction. Picture: Getty

That means that along with Head the World Cup-winning trio could command more than $5 million in Dubai.

Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer are among the other high-profile Australian coaches in the IPL who would not hesitate trying to hunt down players of their calibre.

Head has a bizarre history in the IPL but he is determined to return before next year’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and US, when he is almost certain to be front and centre in Australia’s plans to continue its world domination.

“I will be in,” Head told reporters in India of his desire to be picked up in the IPL auction.

“I was restricted a little bit on time last year with getting married.

“I will put myself in this year and hopefully get picked up and get the opportunity.

“It was nice to be involved in it a long time ago.”

In his first stint in the IPL, Head was used as a lookalike decoy for superstar teammate AB de Villiers (L). Picture: Getty

Head was happy to put his team first when he last played in the IPL six years ago.

One of the all-time greats de Villiers made the most of the fact the Australian sort of looked like him.

However, there will be no mistaking him in India from now on following his breathtaking century in front of 100,000 people in the dismantling of India in the final.

“If we are going to dinner or heading out together, we have a deal that I go before AB does and distract the crowd while he skips out the back door,” Head told foxsports.com.au in 2017.

“The Indian players do give me a bit of stick for it but it’s a bit of fun.”

Originally published as Australia star Travis Head set to cash in on World Cup win at IPL auction along with Pat Cummins