Dwayne Bravo says hamstring injury has cost him around $1.5 million

DWAYNE Bravo estimated the hamstring injury sustained on the troublesome Etihad Stadium turf last summer cost him $1.5 million.

Dwayne Bravo of the Renegades reacts after taking a wicket.

DWAYNE Bravo estimated the hamstring injury sustained on the troublesome Etihad Stadium turf last summer cost him $1.5 million.

Bravo, 34, watched the Indian Premier League auction on Melbourne Renegades teammate Kieron Pollard’s phone on Saturday as he was sold to Chennai Super Kings for $1.2 million.

Pollard was sold to Mumbai Indians for $1.05 million and while Chris Gayle went unsold on Saturday, Bravo was confident the six-machine would land a deal before Sunday night’s deadline.

“Chris will get picked up today at some point,” Bravo said.

“He’s the best player in the world, so definitely somebody will pick him up.”

Chris Lynn lined his pockets with $1.86 million and said while the cash was “life-changing” he didn’t want to become like mercenary tennis player Bernard Tomic.

Bravo said Saturday was the “perfect day” with the Gades beating Brisbane Heat that night to secure their return to the Big Bash League finals.

WARY: Lynn doesn’t want to be next Tomic

Chris Lynn has earned a lucrative IPL deal.

The flamboyant all-rounder has been outspoken about the Etihad Stadium surface since breaking down at the start of last season.

Bravo underwent surgery three days after the injury and missed eight months, travelling to Miami, Jamaica and London in search of the best medical treatment.

“It set me back a lot and I still have fear in my head when I play there because of what happened,” Bravo told the Herald Sun.

“Whenever I play I still get muscle memories. You see a lot of guys pop their hamstring, their ankle, their knees — everything at Etihad.

“It’s not one of the smoothest surfaces, especially where running is concerned.”

Bravo was stretchered from the field and forced to withdraw from last year’s IPL.

“Roughly (it cost me) about $1.5 (million),” he said.

“So it’s a lot — I miss Big Bash, I miss IPL, I miss PSL. I miss a lot.

“But the most important thing is I’m back playing again and I’m healthy and that’s more important than what I missed.”

Dwayne Bravo of the Renegades reacts after taking a wicket.

Bravo’s class with the ball has speared him to the top of the wickets table this summer, jagging 17 scalps from 10 matches.

Bravo has captained the Renegades to their past two wins but is set to hand the reins to Cameron White for Friday night’s semi-final.

Bravo said his IPL treasure chest was “the best news ever” as he prepares to return to Chennai.

“IPL is great fun — and a great paycheck as well,” he said.

“I invest the money so therefore when you finish your cricketing days you can live life comfortable.”

Renegades batsman Tom Cooper threw his name in the auction but wasn’t surprised he was left on the shelf on Saturday.

“The two West Indian boys (Bravo and Pollard) lined their pockets again,” Cooper said.

“They’re probably a little disappointed they weren’t the biggest gets, which they used to be.

“It’s something I’d love to do, just to experience it.

“I imagine it would be very exciting to play cricket in India (and) to play at the tournament like that with the world’s best players would be pretty special.”