England all-rounder –Chris Woakes called his own price tag "mind-boggling" after being picked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for £810,000 (INR 7.4 crore) for his services in the upcoming 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018.
The 28-year-old had a great maiden IPL season with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who picked him for INR 4 crore (£500,000) in 2017. Woakes picked up 17 wickets in 13 matches.
The Warwickshire all-rounder, who was in England team bus on the way from Adelaide to Western Australia, said he was over the moon after learning his IPL bid, as he did not even think he could be picked by any franchise this season. He went to further added that he is going to crazy to think that he earned this huge money for seven weeks work in the cash-rich T20 league in India.
Although England lost the Ashes 2017-18 to Australia but Woakes had a great Test series, as well as, One Day Series against the Kangaroos, against which he cracked a couple of half centuries.
According to Sky Sports, Chris Woakes said, “There were a few things being shouted about on the flight. Jason Roy had been sold to Delhi, Stokesy went for a fortune, and we were just waiting for names to come through. It wasn't until we got onto the bus that my name came through. I saw it come through on an app and I was over the moon. All the lads there and everyone talking about it was a great feeling.”
He added, “It's crazy to think as a cricketer you could earn that sort of money for the amount of time you're going to be playing. It's mind-boggling really. I wasn't even sure if I'd get picked up. This is comfortably life-changing. Last year I'd just got married and it certainly paid for the wedding, put it that way. It's great to see English players getting the opportunity to play in it and earn that sort of money.”
Birmingham lad is looking forward to share the RCB dressing room with Indian captain Virat Kohli and South African star AB de Villiers in the upcoming IPL season.
Woakes signed off by saying, “It's a great opportunity to mingle with these sorts of players. When you're on the same team, it'll be good to pick brains. It can only develop you as a cricketer.”
