Ben Stokes Becomes Highest-Paid English Cricketer After Being Bought By India’s Rising Pune Supergiants

England all-rounder Ben Stokes on Sunday became the Indian Premier League’s highest-paid foreign player when the Rising Pune Supergiants signed him for £1.7 million ($2.12 million).

Ben Stokes Becomes World’s Highest-Paid english Cricketer In IPL

The 25-year-old described the moment he learned of his new deal as “complete carnage.”

English bowler Tymal Mills, meanwhile, signed with Royal Challengers Bangalore for £1.4 million ($1.74 million).

Eoin Morgan, once an England captain, went to Kings XI Punjab for £240,066 ($299,082).

International teammates Jason Roy and Chris Jordan were sold to Gujarat Lions and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively.

Batsman Roy, 26, will earn £120,000 ($149,500), while 28-year-old fast bowler Jordan cost £60,000 ($74,750).

Stokes had a base price of £240,000 (20 million rupees/$299,000), but was also pursued by Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad before Pune secured him.

His signing price surpasses that of former England duo Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, who were sold for $1.55m (£1.1m) each in 2009.

Stokes, Roy and Mills will be be playing in the eight-team Twenty20 competition– which will run from April 5 to May 21– for the first time.’

“It’s a life-changing amount of money,” said Stokes. “Seven times my base amount – that’s mental but pretty cool to think about.

“It was hard to follow on Twitter. I wasn’t sure how much a Crore [Indian unit of measurement] was – people were retweeting stuff, and it was complete carnage.

“I’m just seriously excited about getting going.”

Pune owner Sanjiv Goenka described Stokes as a “complete player.”

Stokes helped England reach the final of the World Twenty20 in 2016, although they were defeated by the West Indies.

He has become one of England’s top players and was named vice-captain of England’s Test team after Joe Root took over as skipper from Alastair Cook earlier this month.

CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH – OCTOBER 22: Ben Stokes of England bats during the 3rd day of the 1st Test match between Bangladesh and England at Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Chittagong, Bangladesh. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)