The 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League is set to start in less than two weeks’ time. This year’s edition will see the return of the cash-rich league to its original home-and-away format after a gap of four years. The IPL mini-auction for the 2023 season was held in Kochi last year, during which many overseas and Indian stars earned big bucks. And among them is a 23-year-old all-rounder who was signed by five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians for Rs 17.50 crore. The right-handed batter, who is also a very handy medium pacer, will make his IPL debut this year, and by snapping up a deal worth Rs 17.50 crore, he will also earn more than his franchise captain, Rohit Sharma.
The 35-year-old Rohit, who has been associated with the Mumbai Indians franchise since IPL 2011, was retained by the MI franchise owners for Rs 16 crore. But in his debut IPL season, the 23-year-old Australian cricketer Cameron Green, who is currently playing in the three-match ODI series against India, will earn more than Rohit.
He is not only the highest-paid player in Mumbai Indians history but also the second-most expensive buy ever in cash-rich league history. Apart from Green and Rohit, the third most expensive player in MI’s squad is young wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan. The 24-year-old Kishan was signed for Rs 15.25 crore in the 2022 mega auctions. And even though he finished as the leading run getter for the franchise last year by making 418 runs from 14 matches, he was criticized for failing to make an impact with his show and lacking consistency.
Mumbai, which has won the most IPL titles in the history of the tournament, had a forgettable outing last year. For the first time in 15 years, they finished at the bottom of the points table and could only manage to win four out of the total of 14 matches.
