evidence: Starc, making a comeback to the IPL after an eight-year hiatus, outbid fellow Australian Pat Cummins, who briefly held the new record before being snagged by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for a substantial sum of Rs 20.50 crore. [...] Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made significant purchases, securing New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra for Rs 1.8 crore and acquiring Daryl Mitchell for a whopping Rs 14 crore. CSK also added the services of Indian pacer Shardul Thakur for Rs 4 crore. The Punjab Kings made a valuable acquisition in the form of Harshal Patel, securing his services for a hefty price of Rs 11.75 crore. In an unexpected move, uncapped Indian Sameer Rizvi went to CSK for a substantial amount of Rs 8.40 crore.