In a dazzling display at the IPL 2024 auction, Mitchell Starc emerged as the costliest player in the history of the Indian Premier League, securing a staggering deal of INR 24.75 crore from two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders. Starc’s return to the cash-rich league after eight years marked a significant milestone, surpassing his teammate Pat Cummins, who fetched INR 20.50 crore in the same auction to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Expressing his excitement in a video message shared by KKR, Starc conveyed, “Hey, KKR fans, I am thrilled to be joining the team for this year’s IPL and I can’t wait to get to the Eden Gardens to experience the home fans, the home crowd, and the atmosphere. Look forward to seeing you then. Ami KKR.”
Reflecting on his return to the IPL, Starc shared his feelings in an interview with Jio Cinema, stating, “It’s obviously humbling to still, I guess, feel like I’m wanted or needed anyway. So hopefully that experience that I’ve had for a few years now can translate into success in… obviously leading up to the IPL and, hopefully, add some of that to the KKR list.”
Starc, part of the current Australian team facing Pakistan, acknowledged the special nature of the night and humorously mentioned the potential expenses with the team. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity and the continued interest from the IPL, emphasizing his dedication to adding value to the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Having played only two IPL editions due to workload management and fitness concerns, Starc is set to make a return to the Kolkata Knight Riders, a franchise that previously signed him in the 2018 auction, albeit he was ruled out due to injury.
Speaking about his intermittent IPL journey, Starc revealed, “Yeah, it’s been a while. I was obviously involved 2014 and 2015 with RCB and then picked up in 2018, but missed out with injury. And then have really prioritised international cricket and wanted to prioritise Test cricket there as well and playing as much and as well as I could for Australia.”
As Kolkata Knight Riders strive to break their IPL trophy drought since 2014, the addition of Mitchell Starc promises to bolster their lineup, setting high expectations for the upcoming edition of the cash-rich league.
