Josh Hazlewood's $2.3 million payday after turning back on IPL riches for wife and child
The Aussie fast-bowler has been rewarded after making a family sacrifice.
Aussie bowler Josh Hazlewood has landed a whopping payday in the Indian Premier League after opting to skip the 2024 tournament to spend time with his wife and child. Hazlewood signed for Royal Challengers Bangalore for $2.3 million in a huge win for the fast-bowler after putting his family first in 2024.
Hazlewood was superb in Australia's successful cricket ODI World Cup campaign and took two wickets against India in the final. He is also still the World's No.14 ranked bowler in T20 cricket, despite hardly playing the short form for a year.
Last year, he was released by Royal Challengers Bangalore after confirming he wanted to be with his wife, with Cherina expecting their first child. This is despite being bought by the franchise for a then-record $1.44m. Hazlewood opted to spend time with his family after a busy 2022 and 2023 season, which saw Australia tour England and India, before a World Cup at the end of the year.
And looking to cash in after the 2024 IPL, Hazlewood has boosted his previous contract and earned $2.3 million. Hazlewood was the highest-priced Aussie in the latest IPL auction.
The Challengers always left the door for Hazlewood to rejoin the franchise and it appears they haven't missed the opportunity to throw the money at the Aussie again for the 2025 tournament. Australia may be looking at an ugly defeat to India in Perth, but Hazlewood was the best of the Aussie bowlers in the first innings having taken four wickets in dismantling the visitors.
Mitchell Starc was the other Aussie to win at the IPL auction having been bought for $2.14 million by the Delhi Capitals. Starc also took a break from the IPL, but returned last year and won the competition with Kolkata Knight Riders.
Jake Fraser-McGurk gets $1.64 million in IPL auction
Marcus Stoinis was also a surprise bid with the all-rounder earning $2 million for the Punjab Kings. Ricky Ponting's Kings also were able to win over the betting for superstar Shreyas Iyer having paid $4.87 million.
Young prodigy Jake Fraser-McGurk enjoyed a stellar IPL debut this year and was rewarded having been snapped up by the Capitals for $1.64 million. This comes off the back of a number of poor displays for the Aussies in the latest T20 series at home.
Veteran Glenn Maxwell also joined Ponting at the Punjab Kings for $765,000. Mitch Marsh went to Lucknow Super Giants for $620,000. Prized spinner Adam Zampa was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for $436,000 in a steal for the franchise.
Josh Hazlewood returns to the IPL
Hazlewood's return follows that of Starc's. The left-arm quick won the IPL tournament this year having starred in the final. However, he opted to skip the competition for a number of years due to the busy schedule of international cricket.
RELATED:
Cricket Australia responds after Ricky Ponting forced out of comm box
Fans question Jaspri Bumrah over India cricket captain's 'illegal' act
Earlier this year, the record-breaking quick said he had no regrets about sacrificing the huge money on offer in the IPL for so many years. The left-arm paceman claimed his Test career was extended because he had skipped the IPL until 2024.
"I made some choices, which I don't regret at all," Starc told the Willow Talk cricket podcast. "I think it's probably helped my Test career, so I'm very happy with how it's all gone. Very grateful to have some interest in the auction and excited, thrilled, surprised. There's plenty of words you can describe the night."
