‘Purse should be 200 CR’: Astronomical price Virat Kohli would get at IPL Auction, predicts Chopra

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra expressed his opinion, stating that if teams were to bid on star hitter Virat Kohli, he could fetch as much as INR 42 crore in the IPL auction.  At the IPL 2024 auction, superstar Australian pacers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc shattered every record. Cummins, who was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 20.5 crore, broke the record for the most expensive purchase in IPL history. The record, though, was short-lived when Mitchell broke through the 20 crore mark to earn 24.75 crore, becoming the most expensive player in IPL history. 

3 things you need to know

• Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc were the most expensive buys in IPL Auction
• Mitchell Starc earned a massive amount of 24.75 crore
• Aakash Chopra gives an interesting view on Virat Kohli

Also Read: Mitchell Starc gives his first reaction after fetching Rs 24.75 crore in IPL 2024 Auction

“Virat would go for INR 42 Crore”- says Aakash Chopra

The IPL 2024 Auction saw some record-shattering buys after two players crossed the 20 crore mark for the first time ever, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc were the two-star pacers from Australia who earned 20.50cr and 24.75cr respectively. The teams were seen to go all out for them in the bidding war making both of them the costliest buys of IPL.  The Kolkata Knight Riders paid an astounding INR 24.75 crore to acquire the elite bowler Mitchell Starc. After viewing the cost of Cummins and Starc, Aakash Chopra commented on the matter, stating that the Indian players who are a part of the IPL deserve more.

Virat Kohli, a legendary batsman has been a part of RCB since the time he started playing IPL in 2008, Aakash Chopra believes that if Virat goes in for auction the franchises would have to increase their budget as Kohli is one of those players who'd break all the records in the auction after dominating sports for over a decade. Speaking about his possible price tag, Chopra said: 

“The purse should be of INR 200 crore with 150 for the Indian players. The remaining INR 50 crore should be kept for the overseas cricketers. Virat Kohli would go for INR 42 crore if he comes to the auction table,” Aakash Chopra was quoted as saying by Crictoday.

Also Read: Starc leaves captain Cummins behind to become most expensive buy in IPL history

“Is this what is called kalyug”, Aakash Chopra in disbelief after overseas players earned more than the top Indian players

In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Chopra expressed his displeasure over foreign players' IPL bids surpassing those of stars like Jasprit Bumrah, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma. 

"Mitchell Starc - 24.75 crore rupees. Pat Cummins - 20.50 crore rupees. Jasprit Bumrah is 12 crores, MS Dhoni is also 12 crores, Virat Kohli - 17 (15) crores, and Rohit Sharma is also 16 crores. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Sam Curran, Cameron Green - all of them are more expensive than them. Is this what is called kalyug?"

The difference in price between Starc and Bumrah was brought to light by the former opener for India. He remarked:

"Who is the No. 1 T20 bowler in the world at the moment? Who is the No. 1 bowler of this IPL? That player's name is Jasrpit Bumrah, and Bumrah gets 12 and Starc gets close to 25. It is wrong. I don't grudge anybody's money. I will be the happiest if everyone gets as much money as they can get, but how is this right?"

According to Chopra, loyalty is not being rewarded because players like Bumrah and Kohli might have sold for over 35 crores if they had entered the auction. To avoid this disparity, he recommended that teams provide different budgets for Indian and overseas players.