DUBAI, DECEMBER 19

Mitchell Starc became the most expensive signing in the history of the Indian Premier League on Tuesday, topping the record figure paid for Australia teammate Pat Cummins at the competition's auction a few hours earlier.

Starc, a left-arm pacer who was last in the IPL eight years ago, was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for nearly $3 million.

That beat the fee paid by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Cummins, who went for nearly $2.5 million.

Before this auction, the record signing was England bowler Sam Curran after he joined Punjab Kings for $2.23 million last year.

It capped a spectacular year for Starc and Cummins, who are coming off winning the Cricket World Cup with Australia last month in the tournament in India.

Cummins and Starc also play in Australia's test team, which won the World Test Championship final in June before retaining the Ashes after a 2-2 draw in the series with England.