Cricket news 2024: IPL auction biggest earners, Rishabh Pant ...

Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer shattered records at the IPL auction, but only three players from Australia cracked the top 20 biggest earners.

Elsewhere, a player from India who hasn't played at the international level in nearly three years was near the top of the list, while a handful of English stars eye off a dominant campaign in the T20 league.

Here's the top 20 earners from the first night of the IPL auction.

(All prices in AUD)

An integral part of India's international set-up in all formats, the veteran seamer will be back for another IPL campaign, this time with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Shami is inching closer to a return from injury and could play in the Test series against Australia in the coming weeks. 

Another tricky leg-spin bowler from Afghanistan, Ahmad was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for 2025.

The left-arm tweaker has played 24 international games and will cause plenty of headaches for rival batters. 

A rapid fast bowler who has terrorised rivals the world over, Rabada is the only South African player inside the top-20 list.

The right-arm speedster joins the Gujarat Titans after spending multiple seasons playing for the Punjab Kings.

His lone Test match came in the shock series win over Australia three years ago and Natarajan is still clearly in the minds of IPL franchises for his strike bowling.

The left-arm seamer spent more than half a decade with Sunrisers Hyderabad, but will move the Delhi Capitals in 2025.

With just four international caps to his name, Sharma is one of the lesser-known players on this highest-paid list.

The 31-year-old wicket-keeper will join Royal Challengers Bangalore after spending a few seasons in Punjab.

A staple of Australia's white-ball teams for close to a decade, Stoinis has spent plenty of time in the IPL over the years and will now take his talents to the Punjab Kings.

The all-rounder is one of just three Aussies taken in the top 20 of the auction. 

A keeper-batsman with two Test caps and a stack more international games on his resume, Kishan will remain at Sunrisers Hyderabad next year.

The 26-year-old has been in and around the Indian side for a few years now and will bring plenty of quality to the roster.

Salt is a specialist T20 batter and can wicket-keep as well.

The 28-year-old will join RCB for the upcoming campaign.

He shattered the record for the highest-priced player in IPL history last year, but the Aussie tearaway will take a hefty paycut in 2025 with Delhi Capitals.

Starc is regarded as one of the most dangerous T20 bowlers in history and will have a point to prove this season.

Currently plying his trade in the Test series against the Aussies, the right-arm seamer has landed at the Gujarat Titans.

Siraj has become a prominent fixture in all formats for India in the past five years.

It was no surprise to see the towering fast bowler as the most expensive Aussie in this year's auction with RCB - the same team he played for in 2022 and 2023.

Hazlewood is one of the best three-format bowlers in the world and has continued to improve in T20 cricket over the years.

One of the most feared bowlers in the world, Archer has battled with injury in recent years but has returned for England in white-ball cricket.

The right-arm quick joins the Rajasthan Royals for next year's IPL season.

One of the best Kiwi players in history, Boult has been picked up by the Mumbai Indians for a second stint with the team.

The 35-year-old has taken more than 600 international crickets across all formats.

Fresh off a quality performance in the first Test against Australia, the top-order batter and wicket-keeper will get a handsome pay packet in next year's tournament.

Rahul is a quality player in all formats and moves to the Delhi Capitals.

A true veteran of Indian cricket, the 34-year-old brings more than 150 games of international experience to the Kings.

Chahal will be the most expensive spinner in next year's IPL season.

A left-arm quick, Singh has become a mainstay for India's T20I side in recent years, taking 47 wickets in 55 games.

The 25-year-old has signed with the Punjab Kings and was the most expensive bowler to go in the auction.

Perhaps an unknown player for Aussie fans, the batting all-rounder has impressed plenty within Indian cricket circles in recent years and will join KKR next season.

The 29-year-old Iyer, who is no relation to Shreyas, has only played a handful of games for India, with the last of those coming almost three years ago.

Not too far behind the top of the bidding was Iyer and after Sunday's auction is now the second-highest priced player ever.

The right-hander has played all three formats for India on the international stage and will sign with the Punjab Kings.

One of the most entertaining players in world cricket, Pant went for a new record price of $4.9 million at this year's auction and joins the Lucknow Super Giants.

The big-hitting batter and cheeky keeper has returned in style after missing an extended period due to injuries suffered in a horrific car accident in 2022.