Australian cricket stars Pat Cummins and Travis Head reportedly declined staggering offers from an IPL franchise, with each player offered around $10 million (₹58.2 crore) per year to quit international cricket and participate in T20 leagues globally.
The report, published by The Age, revealed that the informal approach aimed to sign both players for year-round participation in various franchise tournaments. Despite the massive financial incentives, both Cummins and Head reaffirmed their commitment to represent Australia in international cricket, highlighting their loyalty to the national team.
This development has reportedly reignited discussions around the potential privatization of the Big Bash League (BBL), Australia’s premier domestic T20 competition. The move could attract private investment, enhance player salaries, and align the league more closely with global franchise cricket. Talks on partial BBL privatization have reportedly taken place among Cricket Australia, state associations, and the players’ union, though no official statement has been issued yet.
Currently, Pat Cummins earns ₹18 crore from his IPL contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad, after a pay cut from his ₹20.5 crore 2024 deal. As Australia’s Test and ODI captain, Cummins earns approximately 3 million Australian dollars (₹17.48 crore) annually, including his captaincy allowance. Other top Australian cricketers typically earn around 1.5 million Australian dollars (₹8.74 crore) per year.
For context, among Australian athletes, Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri is the highest-paid, with an annual salary of 40 million Australian dollars, followed by NBA player Josh Giddey at 38 million and NFL star Jordan Mailata at 34 million.
Cummins and Head’s decision to turn down such huge sums underscores their dedication to Australian cricket, even as global T20 leagues continue to offer unprecedented financial rewards.
