Cricket News: Sam Curran was acquired by Punjab Kings for a record INR 18.50 crore on Friday during the IPL 2023 mini-auction, making headlines (December 23). The 2022 T20 World Cup’s Player of the Tournament, an English all-rounder, was predicted to score the largest bargain on auction day. Curran’s first IPL side, Punjab Kings, won the deal following a competitive bidding war with Mumbai Indians to become the most expensive player ever acquired in IPL history.
With an old photograph from his prior employment with the business, PBKS greeted him. Curran responded to the same by writing, “I want to go back to the beginning! awaiting it with interest.”
During the IPL 2019 auction, the 24-year-old player paid INR 7.20 crore to join PBKS for the first time. He gained notoriety in 2019 after scoring a hat trick against the Delhi Capitals, however, the team released him before the 2020 campaign.
With his strong performances in 2022, Curran has solidified his position as one of the top bowling all-rounders in the competition. He finished the T20 World Cup 2022 with 13 wickets in just six innings, and he is currently ranked sixth among T20I bowlers by the ICC. His ability to take wickets in the final few overs makes him a priceless addition to the Punjab Kings team, which also includes players like Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada.
Prior to the IPL 2023 auction, Punjab Kings released Caribbean all-rounder Odean Smith and replaced him with Curran and Sikandar Raza. The co-owner of PBKS, Ness Wadia, referred to Curran as a “world-class” talent and claimed that the player gives their team balance.
“It’s important to strike the correct balance; thus far, things are going well. It’s wonderful that Sam is back. A few years back, we had him bat 7–7.5, and then Chennai had him. These top-up auctions are continuously evolving. Sam, 24, has played in over 140 matches and is a world-class athlete. And pleased to have Raza with us; having a Zimbabwean in the IPL is wonderful;” added Wadia.
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