Blackcaps batter Daryl Mitchell woke up on Wednesday with 2.7 million reasons to smile, as the latest Kiwi to earn a payday in the lucrative Indian Premier League.
After a three-way bidding war at Tuesday's annual player auction, Mitchell netted a seven-figure sum when he was sold to Chennai Super Kings, as one of three Blackcaps to pick up contracts for the 2024 season.
But while Rachin Ravindra ($350,000) and Lockie Ferguson ($385,000) also secured contracts with Chennai and Royal Challengers Bangalore respectively, Mitchell's millions made him the second-most expensive Kiwi IPL signing, behind only Kyle Jamieson's $2.86 million in 2021.
The deal is the latest reward to come Mitchell's way, after being made to wait until his late 20s to become a Blackcaps regular after years of toil at domestic level.
And after going unsold in previous auctions before being sold to Rajasthan Royals for just $150,000 in 2022, this year's auction was made all the more life-changing for Mitchell and his young family.
"It's obviously a pretty special night for us as a family," Mitchell said. "To see your name come up, and then to go through that whole experience is something that will stick with us for the rest of our lives.
"Having been through the auction before, and going unsold, it was a pretty special night to experience that.
"Now to be part of the Chennai Super Kings is an exciting time ahead."
Wednesday was already going to be a special day for the Mitchell family, regardless of any payday coming his way.
But now with his payday coming right before Christmas as well, Mitchell's deal with Chennai help set his family up for life.
"It's my oldest daughter's fifth birthday today," he added. "She's got a pretty good present by waking up to that – not that she
understands what's going on.
"That's the cool thing about these sort of situations, it helps set up your family in many ways, so they can grow up and enjoy the things they love.
"For me, that's the really cool thing about it. They're the reasons why you do all this."
Mitchell, along with Ravindra, will join a star-studded cast at Chennai.
The pair will link up with the defending champions, already home to Blackcaps teammates Devon Conway and Mitchell Santner.
What's more, the Super Kings are coached by former Blackcaps captain Stephen Fleming, who in tandem with India great MS Dhoni have made Chennai a juggernaut in the IPL.
And with the likes of India's Ravindra Jadeja and England's Moeen Ali among his new teammates, Mitchell can't wait to link up with his new franchise early next year.
"I'm really excited to play under Flem," he continued. "He's obviously a great of the game in our country as a player, and now as a coach as well.
"To learn off him, he's had a lot of success, I'm really looking forward to that experience. As players, we spend a lot of time with each other.
"I've grown up with Mitch since we were about 12 years old, now with Dev and Rachin in the team as well, it's going to be good fun.
"The cool thing about the IPL is that you get to rub shoulders with world class players, and learn things off them as well."
