Mumbai Indians grab ‘Podi Malinga’ Nuwan Thushara and Dilshan Madushanka

Nuwan Thushara – most expensive Sri Lankan at IPL auction 2024

Dilshan Madushanka second most expensive Sri Lankan

Australian fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc the first two players to breach the INR 20 crore mark

• IPL auction 2024 in Dubai

Jaffna Kings slinger Nuwan Thushara also known as ‘Podi Malinga’ became Sri Lanka’s most expensive player at the IPL auction held in Dubai yesterday, being bought by five-times winners Mumbai Indians for INR 4.8 crore ($ 577,700 approx.). 

Thushara who can bowl a mean yorker from a Malinga-esque slingy action will work with Sri Lanka’s legendary fast bowler Lasith Malinga who is the bowling coach of Mumbai Indians.

Thushara has played 5 T20Is for Sri Lanka so far and has picked up 6 wickets with the best figures of 4 for 17. Overall, he has played 79 T20s and has picked up an impressive 103 wickets. Recently, he impressed in the Abu Dhabi T10 league and finished the competition as the second-highest wicket-taker. In 9 games, he had 13 wickets.

Mumbai Indians also secured another Sri Lankan fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka who was sold for INR 4.6 crore ($ 554,000 approx.). The left-arm quick impressed in World Cup 2023, taking 21 wickets in nine matches, including a five-wicket haul. He has 12 wickets in 11 T20Is. Madushanka will also come under the watchful eyes of Malinga.

Sri Lanka’s T20I all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga was sold to Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 1.5 crore ($ 181,000 approx.) after being released by Royal Challengers Bangalore for whom he appeared last year.

Two other Sri Lankan cricketers, fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera and batsman Kusal Mendis whose base prices were INR 50 lakhs each went unsold.

With Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana being retained by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) there will be a total of five Sri Lankan players featuring in IPL 2024.

Mitchell Starc became the most expensive signing in Indian Premier League history with Kolkata Knight Riders forking out a staggering INR 24.75 crores ($ 2,979,000 approx.) for the left-arm Australian pacer. KKR’s record signing amount surpassed the INR 20.50 crores ($ 2,467,724 approx.) that Sunrisers Hyderabad paid for the services of his compatriot Pat Cummins earlier in the same auction. The Australian fast-bowling pair became the first two players to breach the INR 20 crore-mark in salary in the history of the auctions, comfortably clearing Sam Curran’s INR 18.50 crores pay-out last year.

It was the first time the IPL auction was held outside India.