KKR CEO reacts to Mitchell Starc's price tag criticism after 3 sixes in last over, says 'We don't think of it from an investment...'

Australia’s left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc became the most expensive player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) roped him in for Rs 24.75 crore. The expectations were high as Starc returned to IPL after an eight-year hiatus. However, Starc has failed to impress so far and remained wicketless in four games. Against his former franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Starc was taken to the cleaners. In the last over, he was hit for three sixes by Karn Sharma. Even though KKR managed to beat RCB by one run, Starc faced widespread criticism. However, KKR CEO Venky Mysore seems unperturbed by the criticism around his price tag. 
 

"He's a superstar and he's a quality player," Venky Mysore said, as quoted by PTI news agency. 
 

"We don't think of it from an investment standpoint, because you go to the auction and things happen in the auction, which is not in the hands of the player, nor is it in the hands of anybody else.
 

"We just felt that an addition to the team like Mitchell Starc would add a lot of value, which it has. I mean, his presence itself in the lineup adds a different dynamic to the team, and there were specific skills that the support staff were looking for. So, we think we had that," he added.

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Starc’s numbers so far

Starc's best performance of 3/28 came against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). However, it his economy rate of 11.48 runs per over that has been under the scanner. He has conceded 287 runs from 37.2 overs and his bowling average is 47.83. KKR CEO hinted that the franchise will continue to back Starc despite the rough patch. 
 

"There are times when games are up and down. Everybody gets taken to the cleaners at times, and there are other times they come and just do their thing and win games for the team. So we're super happy having him in the setup," he said. 

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Who can replace Starc?

If KKR decide to drop Starc, their overseas bowling options are Sri Lanka's Dushmantha Chameera and Afghanistan's Allah Ghazanfar. 
 

Despite Starc's below-par performances, KKR have won five out of seven games and are placed second on the points table.
 

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