Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises reportedly approached Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins and vice-captain Travis Head with lucrative full-time T20 league contracts worth around USD 10 million annually, but both players turned down the offers to remain committed to their country, Australian media has reported.
An IPL team group reportedly invited the two stars to quit national duties and play full-time in overseas T20 leagues. However, Cummins and Head declined, saying their priority was to serve Australia.
Australian media revealed that the offer came to light during a recent meeting about the possible privatization of the Big Bash League, where Cricket Australia’s financial challenges were discussed.
The rejected offers were cited as an example of the strong international competition for top Australian talent.
Reports also noted that top Australian cricketers earn around USD 1.5 million annually under national contracts, with Cummins receiving up to USD 3 million including captaincy allowances.
This is not the first time such offers have surfaced. In 2023, England pacer Jofra Archer was also offered USD 7.5 million by an IPL team for a one-year contract, which he declined.