'I Just Don't Think T20 is His Best Format': Veteran Aussie Pacer Questions Pat Cummins' Massive IPL 2024 Price Tag

Veteran Australia paceman Jason Gillespie opined that Pat Cummins is a quality bowler and leader but it’s the Test format which gets the best out of him and suggested that the T20 is not his best format to play. Gillespie’s comments came after Cumins’s whopping price tag for the next season of IPL. Sunrisers Hyderabad signed the Australian captain for a massive Rs 20.50 crore.

He scripted history and became the second most expensive player in IPL history as several teams went after him in the IPL 2024 Players’ Auction Ceremony in Dubai.

“Pat’s obviously a quality bowler and a quality leader, we’ve seen that. I just don’t think T20 is his best format,” Gillespie told SEN Radio.

“I think he’s a Test bowler, personally. I think Test cricket is his absolute bread and butter.”

It was not the first time that Cummins, who has 55 wickets in 50 T20I matches at an average of 24.54 and economy of 7.37 in T20Is, attracted huge sums at the IPL auction. Ahead of the 2020 edition, KKR had paid Rs 15.5 crore for his services.

“He’s a good T20 bowler, make no mistake. But that’s massive overs for me,” Gillespie added.

Meanwhile, another Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc hit the paydirt and became the most expensive player in the tournament history as Kolkata Knight Riders spent a mind-boggling Rs 24.75 crores for the left-armer’s services. KKR went all out for Starc and engaged in a bidding war alongside Gujarat Titans to sign the left-arm paceman who will be returning to the tournament after 8 years.

Starc, who has usually prioritised international duty over playing in the IPL, has played only two seasons of the cash-rich league, taking 34 wickets in 27 games at an average of 20.38.

However, Gillespie feels that Starc is a great buy for KKR despite the massive price tag.

“I think he’s a great buy. It’s a lot of money, we all acknowledge that, but the IPL is a very rich tournament… I’m absolutely delighted for Mitch.

“I think it just highlights how important teams value left-arm fast bowling and left-arm swing bowling at pace,” Gillespie said.