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Mitchell Starc, the seasoned Australian bowler, recently shared insights into his triumph with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2024. Reflecting on their journey, Starc highlighted the scrutiny he and Pat Cummins faced due to their high price tags in this year’s T20 extravaganza.
Starc played a pivotal role in KKR’s impressive campaign, culminating in their third IPL title. The team, led by Shreyas Iyer, displayed unwavering dominance throughout the tournament, notably overcoming Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) twice in the playoffs to secure the championship.
Had A Bit Of A Laugh About It – Mitchell Starc
During his appearance on the Willow Talk podcast, Mitchell Starc fondly reminisced about clinching the IPL title while navigating the weight of financial expectations. He humorously recounted a moment with fellow high-earning teammate Pat Cummins during their debut game in Hyderabad. Starc noted with pride that the IPL 2024 final featured both of the tournament’s highest-priced players.
“Did laugh. So first game of the IPL, we played Hyderabad. So Patty and I, both got paid a fair bit, played the first game, and had a bit of a laugh about it. Just so happens, we play each other nine weeks later in the final. And all of a sudden it’s gone from, they’ve paid overs for these two, and these two are now playing a final. Funny that,” Starc said.
The Kolkata Knight Riders made a significant investment of Rs 24.75 crore in Mitchell Starc during last year’s mini-auction, expecting a stellar performance. However, the left-arm pacer faced a challenging start to the IPL 2024 season, conceding 100 runs across his initial two matches with an economy rate of 12.50 and failing to secure any wickets.
Despite this rough beginning, the 34-year-old experienced a remarkable turnaround during the playoffs. In the crucial Qualifier 1 against SunRisers Hyderabad, Starc emerged as a standout performer, claiming three wickets for 34 runs in his four overs, steering KKR towards the championship match.
Starc continued his impactful streak in the final showdown, where he played a pivotal role by dismissing Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi, ultimately earning the Player of the Match award for his impressive figures of 2/24 in three overs. His exceptional performance also marked him as the first player to receive this accolade twice in IPL playoff history.
Following his IPL success, Mitchell Starc was part of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA, representing Australia led by Marsh. Despite his efforts, Australia fell short of reaching the semifinals, exiting the tournament after defeats to Afghanistan and India in the Super Eight stage.
Throughout the World Cup campaign, Starc contributed with five wickets in five matches at an average of 31.60 and an economy rate of 8.78. His best performance of 2/20 came against Oman, while he notably took two crucial wickets against India, conceding 45 runs in four overs during a crucial encounter.
