I owe few dinners to McCullum and rest of KKR staff for that auction bid: Cummins

Australian pacer Pat Cummins, the costliest player of the Indian Premier League (IPL), on Saturday thanked Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Brendon McCullum for picking him for a record sum of Rs 15.5 crore.

The number one ICC Test bowler, who was part of their IPL-2014 winning team, was slated to don 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."
"I think if you can't shine the ball, it takes away swing bowling, reverse swing bowling...so much really. Honestly, I wouldn't want to give batsmen any reason to score more runs."