Former Australia captain and Delhi Capitals coach, Ricky Ponting, revealed that Australian pacer Spencer Johnson thanked him for driving up his bid at the IPL 2024 auction. The 28-year-old pacer, who was picked by Gujarat Titans for Rs 10 crore, humorously said that he owes a few beers to the Australian cricket legend.
During the Renegades vs Brisbane Heat game in BBL, Ponting was asked in the commentary box if Spencer’s hefty IPL payday surprised him.
“I was the under-bidder (laughs). He actually came up to me pre-game and said, ‘thanks so much for last night. Thanks for pushing it [bid] up’. He actually said, ‘I think I owe you couple of beers'”, Ponting said on Channel 7.
However, Ponting said that he was not surprised to see Johnson going up for big money at the IPL 2024 auction.
“I am actually not that surprised. There are not a lot of these types of guys around, 6ft 4, 6ft 5. Guys who can bowl 140+. He is a left-arm, he can swing the ball. He has actually done well in the T20s he has played”, the former Australia skipper added.
Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans were in a bidding war for Spencer Johnson at the IPL auction on Tuesday. Both franchises fought hard to secure the 28-year-old but Titans came out as winner with Rs 10 crore bid.
“Eighteen months (ago) I didn’t have a state deal or a Big Bash contract. I was working as a landscaper and greenskeeper. So fast-forward 18 months, yeah it’s different situations,” Spencer Johnson told Cricket Australia.
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