xtratime Logo

XtraTime Web Desk: Australian cricket team's pace maestro Pat Cummins is the costliest player of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 15.5 crore cost cricketer on Saturday thanked Kolkata Knight Riders coach Brendon McCullum for picking him in the squad. The number one ICC Test bowler, who was part of their IPL 2014 winning team, was slated to don the KKR jersey again in the IPL this year but the tournament originally scheduled from March 29 has been postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic. "I owe Baz (McCullum) and the rest of the staff who picked me a few dinners at least. Someone like Baz, I have played against him, is a great cricketer and an international captain," the Aussie star pacer, who turned 27 on Friday, said in an interview on KKR website. "To get that kind of reassurance that ‘you've got something that I really want in the team' is great for me. I think a big contract brings big responsibilities, but more than anything, it brings a lot of excitement. "Once you are out there, you forget about the contract really quickly, and it's mainly about being with the team and trying to win. I am really excited to be with the squad we put together for this season." The situation with the COVID-19 has led to talks around the fact that saliva might not be allowed to shine the ball anymore and Cummins said there has to be some other option. "Things will change in all sports, I agree. But I think there has to be some other option. Saliva or any another substance, as long as we are able to shine the ball, I am okay," the ICC Test player of the year said.