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Jhye Richardson has the chance to push for a Twenty20 World Cup spot in India with his $2.48-million IPL deal, two years after an injury cost him dearly.

Reclaiming a World Cup spot after one was cruelly taken away from him two years ago shapes as Jhye Richardson's second big reward in Asia following his life-changing $2.48-million IPL payday.

Richardson was still in shock on Friday after becoming one of Australian cricket's overnight millionaires, landing a dream deal with Punjab for this year's competition.

The 24-year-old West Australian paceman admitted he woke up on Friday as exhausted as he would be if he had just played a game, after frantically scribbling down the conversion calculation for 1400 Lakh.

"I think I've just mentally exhausted myself of all these emotions of feeling sick and excited," Richardson said from the Australian squad's quarantine hotel in New Zealand.

"It's life changing to be honest.

"Your emotions take over and you kind of forget (the conversion rate), you double check it, triple check, quadruple check.

"I was scribbling on papers, nervous hands, still sinking in but it took a moment."

Other big Australian winners were Glenn Maxwell and Riley Meredith, who went for $2.52 and $1.42 million to Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab respectively.

For Richardson his maiden IPL deal opens up so many other doors, after his tournament-high 29 BBL wickets caught the attention of franchises.

His only other cricket in Asia two years ago saw his one-day World Cup spot taken away when he dislocated his shoulder and started 18 months of problems.

Now though, he can push for another World Cup in the Twenty20 format with the global tournament to be held in India later this year.

"It's a nice bonus from where I was 12 months ago," Richardson said.

"All the questions go through your mind when you have such a long recovery or such a big injury whether or not you'll get back to your best.

"Any competition helps (in the push for a World Cup spot).

"If you're performing well in any competition that's the best thing you can possibly do, be confident in your own game and play well."

Working in Richardson's favour is that he is comfortable on white-ball wickets in India.

He took eight wickets at 21.12 in the three ODIs there in 2019, before being grounded weeks later when he was hurt in the UAE.

"Before my shoulder I had a few variations which I like to play around with," Richardson said.

"The Indian wickets suited that. It creates a new challenge. The wickets over there are so different to Australian wickets that it's something different.

"It's another challenge I like to embrace."

Australia's players did not watch the auction together in New Zealand, as the likes of captain Aaron Finch, Matthew Wade and Alex Carey went unsold in a tough night for batsmen.

Meanwhile Meredith's $1.42 million figure made him the most expensive uncapped overseas signing in the tournament's history.

"I was on FaceTime with my girlfriend at the time and we just absolutely couldn't believe it was happening," said Meredith, who has never played in Asia before, said.

"It was like it was fake, to be honest. We're both pretty dumbfounded."