Australia’s left-arm quick Mitchell Starc will return to the IPL after an eight-year hiatus after he was signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 24.75 crore at the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai on Tuesday. He also became the most expensive player in IPL history, edging past his Aussie skipper Pat Cummins, who was signed by SRH for Rs 20.5 crore earlier in the day.
“It was a shock, of course. My wife, Alyssa, is with the women’s team in India, so she was getting updates quicker than what I was seeing on screen. Surprised but thrilled,” Starc said.
“Our Test Squad WhatsApp group has been going off to say it’s our [Pat Cummins] shout to get dinner next. Something to do ahead of the Boxing Day Test. A special night for both of us.
“It has been a while, yes. I’ve been involved with RCB in 2014–15, then picked up by KKR in 2018 but got injured. But I’ve been prioritising international cricket and Test cricket for Australia. Coming into the back end of this year and next year, it’s much quieter for Australia as a group so excited to be involved. A good chance to play some really competitive T20 cricket in the best T20 league going around with a T20 World Cup coming up.”
Starc will aim to use the tournament as preparation for the T20 World Cup in June. His base price was Rs 2 crore.
Mumbai Indians and Delhi Captains began the bidding war for Starc, with Rishabh Pant raising the paddle at the Delhi table. At 9.6 crore, DC pulled out and Kolkata Knight Riders entered the fray. MI then pulled out at 9.8 crore with Gujarat Titans jumping in.
What ensued left everyone in the auction room stunned. GT and KKR, both searching for a frontline overseas quick, engaged in a fierce bidding war and did not back down, setting the cash registers ringing.
KKR ultimately had its way and acquired Starc’s services.
Starc’s ability to swing the ball at high speed, coupled with changes of pace, makes him a valuable asset.
Starc last featured in the IPL in 2015 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore after his inaugural season the year before. He took 20 wickets in 13 games that year, for an average of 14.55 and an economy rate of 6.76.
But since 2015, for a variety of reasons, including injuries, the left-arm pacer hasn’t been part of the tournament. Starc was signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018 for Rs. 9.40 crore before opting out due to an injury.
For Australia, Starc last featured in a T20 fixture more than a year ago during the T20 World Cup. In 58 matches, Starc has claimed 73 wickets at an average of 22.91.
Earlier in the day, Australian skipper Pat Cummins was signed by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 20.5 crore and broke the record for the most expensive purchase in auction history. Another Aussie quick, Josh Hazlewood, was unsold.
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