Travis Head’s vulnerability against Mitchell Starc, suffering four ducks in five innings, poses a significant worry for SRH in the IPL Final.

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In the IPL 2024 Final, Mitchell Starc’s historical dominance over Travis Head sets the stage for a pivotal showdown that could heavily influence the outcome on Sunday at the Chepauk.

Travis Head harbors a clear discomfort when facing Mitchell Starc, evident over the past nine years. Starc has consistently troubled the left-handed batsman, posing a significant challenge for him. This matchup presents a major cause for concern for SRH ahead of the IPL 2024 Final scheduled for Sunday, May 26, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Despite this apprehension, Head’s remarkable form cannot be overlooked, as he stands fourth in the list of leading run-scorers, amassing 567 runs from 14 matches at an impressive average of 43.61 and a strike-rate of 192.20.

Despite his impressive track record, Travis Head struggled to overcome his mental barrier against Mitchell Starc during SRH’s encounter with KKR in Qualifier 1 earlier this week at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Head fell victim to a full-length delivery from Starc, resulting in his dismissal with his stumps disturbed early in the Sunrisers’ innings. This instance marked the fifth occasion across all formats where Starc outplayed Head, with the left-handed batsman enduring four ducks among them.

Starc’s absolute control over Head

Starc has bowled Head out on four occasions, highlighting his formidable prowess against his Australian compatriot. The dominance dates back to 2015 when, within a span of three weeks, Starc dismissed Head three times across the One-Day Cup and Sheffield Shield, prominent domestic tournaments in Australia. Continuing this trend, in 2017, Starc claimed his fourth dismissal of Head. Even in 2024, amidst Head’s exceptional form across formats, Starc remained relentless, showcasing his effectiveness against him once again.

Travis Head’s encounters with Mitchell Starc:

– October 8, 2015: New South Wales vs South Australia, One Day Cup: Head bowled by Starc for 0 runs off 1 ball.
– October 25, 2015: New South Wales vs South Australia, One Day Cup: Head bowled by Starc for 1 run off 3 balls.
– October 30, 2015: New South Wales vs South Australia, Sheffield Shield: Head caught by Peter Neville off Starc for 0 runs off 1 ball.
– October 28, 2017: New South Wales vs South Australia, Sheffield Shield: Head bowled by Starc for 0 runs off 1 ball.
– May 21, 2024: SRH vs KKR, IPL: Head bowled by Starc for 0 runs off 2 balls.