In a dramatic turn of events at the IPL 2024 auction, Mitchell Starc has clinched the title of the most expensive player, surpassing his captain, Pat Cummins, who set a record just an hour earlier. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made a bold move, shelling out a staggering Rs. 24.75 crore to secure Starc's services, while Cummins found himself in the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) camp for Rs. 20.5 crore.

The auction witnessed intense bidding wars, with Indian pacers Umesh Yadav and Shivam Mavi fetching Rs. 5.8 crore and Rs. 6.4 crore respectively, finding homes with Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Supergiants (LSG). Daryl Mitchell, the New Zealand all-rounder, was acquired by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for Rs. 14 crore, and Punjab Kings (PBKS) broke the bank for Harshal Patel, securing him for Rs. 11.75 crore.

A significant highlight featured West Indies T20 captain Rovman Powell, who ignited a fierce battle between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, eventually being snapped up by Rajasthan Royals for a whopping Rs. 7.40 crore.

The auction also saw Chennai Super Kings making strategic moves, securing all-rounders Shardul Thakur (Rs. 4 crore) and Rachin Ravindra (Rs. 1.8 crore) in the second set of picks. While there were no takers for Rilee Rossouw, Delhi Capitals (DC) seized the opportunity to sign Harry Brook for Rs. 4 crore.

The suspense continued with a bidding war for Australia's Travis Head, ultimately won by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs. 6.8 crore. Notably, players like Steve Smith, Karun Nair, and Manish Pandey remained unsold.

With 10 teams vying for just 77 available slots and a pool of 332 players, the auction showcased the perennial challenge of balancing choices. Overseas fast bowlers, including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, are expected to be in high demand, along with sought-after wicketkeepers such as Phil Salt, Josh Inglis, and Kusal Mendis. Indian talents like Shivam Mavi, Kartik Tyagi, Umesh Yadav, and Shahrukh Khan are also poised to capture attention in the upcoming IPL season.

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