Web desk: Australia’s Pat Cummins and Travis Head have turned down an offer of massive AUD $10 million from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to prioritise national commitments.
As per the Australian media, a franchise group from the Indian Premier League had approached both cricketers this year during the tournament. They had made an offer to leave Australian Cricket and join the T20 leagues instead.
According to the reports, both of them were offered AUD $10 million.
However, both Cummins and Head declined the approach, reaffirming their loyalty to the national team.
Their decision is being seen as a strong statement in favour of international cricket at a time when global leagues are increasingly competing for top talent.
Despite such offers, the Australian duo stood firm.
Cummins, who currently captains the national side, and Head, who played a pivotal role in Australia’s recent successes across formats, have both reiterated their focus on representing Australia.
The revelation reportedly surfaced during discussions about the potential privatisation of the Big Bash League (BBL).
During those meetings, Cricket Australia’s ongoing financial challenges were reportedly highlighted, along with examples of players resisting lucrative overseas deals.
Sources cited Cummins and Head’s refusal as an example of players maintaining national loyalty despite intense competition from international leagues.
Comparative Earnings
Top-tier Australian cricketers under Cricket Australia’s central contracts reportedly earn around AUD $1.5 million, which is approximately INR 8.7 crore, annually, while Cummins, as captain, receives close to AUD $3 million, which is approximately INR 17.5 crore, including bonuses.
Both players also have profitable IPL contracts with Sunrisers Hyderabad. According to the reports Cummins earned about USD 3.7 million, which is approximately INR 18 crore, and Head around USD 1.2 million earning about USD 3.7 million, which is approximately INR 14 crore.
Despite the potential for far greater financial gain, both players have made it clear they remain committed to representing Australia across all formats.
