Mitchell Starc is all set to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after being roped in by the franchise for a record-breaking INR 24.75 crore in the player auction on Tuesday, December 19.
Just about an hour before Starc's bid, his compatriot, Pat Cummins, was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a record bid of 20.5 crore. However, the Australian captain's tenure as the most expensive player in the IPL auction was shortlived as multiple teams engaged in a bidding war for the Sydney-born left-arm pacer. In the end, it came to a tug of war between the Gujarat Titans and the Knight Riders and eventually, the former two-time champions secured the services of the 33-year-old for a record bid of INR 24.75 crore.
Starc's wife, Alyssa Healy, who is in India with the Australian women's cricket team to play a one-off Test against the 'Women in Blue', stated that it is a justification for his hard work and his country-first mantra during the eight-year IPL hiatus.
"Look, it is what it is. It is an amazing moment for Mitch. It is a great justification for the hard work he has put in and (for) probably some of the choices he has made over the last eight years to put his country first," Healy told the media as quoted by India Today.
Starc's last IPL game dates back to 2015 when he represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore against Chennai Super Kings in Ranchi. Over the years, he has prioritised playing for the country. However, with a lighter international schedule and a T20 World Cup on the horizon, Starc has opted to get another taste of the most-watched franchise league in world cricket.
In 27 IPL games, Starc has picked up 34 wickets at an average of 20.38 and a strike rate of 17.06. He played quite a few games at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, a venue that is considered a nightmare for bowlers. However, his economy rate of just 7.17 is a testament to his quality.