IPL Auction 2023 happened yesterday in Kochi, and it was a memorable evening for many overseas cricketers. The likes of Nicholas Pooran, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Cameron Green and Sam Curran earned massive contracts from the IPL franchises. Quite shockingly, a few foreign players will earn more money than the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah in this year’s IPL.
IPL 2023 Auction was an unpredictable auction. Teams did not think much before spending more than 15 crore for the overseas players at the auction. The teams also showed interest in players from some new countries this year.
One cricketer each from the following two nations earned a contract at the IPL 2023 Auction and became the first representative of their nation at the Indian Premier League. Here is the list of the two countries:
1. Joshua Little was the first Ireland player to earn a contract at IPL 2023 Auction
Ireland’s left-arm fast bowler Joshua Little made history by becoming the first player from his country’s cricket team to earn an IPL contract. Last season, Little was a net bowler for the Chennai Super Kings team. This year, the defending champions Gujarat Titans went all out for him and signed him for INR 4.4 crore at the mini auction.
Fans should note that former Ireland player Eoin Morgan also earned an IPL deal in the past, but he was registered as a cricketer of the England team in the auctions.
2. David Wiese
David Wiese has represented Royal Challengers Bangalore in the previous Indian Premier League seasons, but he was a member of the South African cricket team at that time.
Wiese registered himself as a player of Namibia in IPL 2023 Auction. Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders signed him at his base price of INR 1 crore at the mini auction.
