Australia’s captain Pat Cummins and star batter Travis Head have reportedly declined a staggering AUD 10 million (₹58.2 crore approx.) offer from an IPL franchise to quit international cricket and commit fully to global T20 leagues. Despite the tempting deal, both players reaffirmed their commitment to representing Australia across all formats, demonstrating their loyalty to national cricket.
Currently, Cummins and Head are valuable members of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) setup in the IPL, with contracts worth ₹18 crore and ₹14 crore, respectively. Beyond the IPL, Cummins earns approximately AUD 3 million (₹17.48 crore) annually, including his captaincy allowance, making him one of the top earners in Australian cricket.
Meanwhile, Head’s central contract also places him among the highest-paid cricketers in the country, with elite players drawing around AUD 1.5 million (₹8.74 crore) per year from Cricket Australia. The revelation of these lucrative T20 offers reportedly came to light during discussions between Cricket Australia (CA), the players’ association, and state boards about the potential privatisation of the Big Bash League (BBL).
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According to The Sydney Morning Herald, senior cricket sources indicated that these offers highlight the growing competition between international boards and private leagues for player commitments.
An IPL franchise — reportedly Sunrisers Hyderabad — approached Pat Cummins and Travis Head with a staggering offer of $10 million per year each to give up international cricket.
Both players turned it down, reaffirming their commitment to representing Australia.Travis Head… pic.twitter.com/BmNz61cCLt
— Haydos🛡️ (@diablo_kells) October 8, 2025
“The offers have been used as an example of how tenuous Australian cricket’s hold on its players is becoming,” the report stated. The discussions also emphasised that private investment could help increase player salaries and better integrate the BBL into the global T20 ecosystem, similar to IPL franchise models.
Interestingly, even top Australian cricketers earn far less than their counterparts in other professional sports. Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri (AUD 40 million), NBA star Josh Giddey (AUD 38 million), and NFL player Jordan Mailata (AUD 34 million) top the earnings chart — all from privately owned leagues.
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Notably, Heinrich Klaasen, Cummins’ and Head’s SRH teammate, recently chose to retire from South Africa’s international cricket to pursue franchise opportunities full-time — a growing trend that Australia is determined to resist.
