Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc expressed his enthusiasm about joining the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). On December 19, he secured the title of the most expensive player in the T20I league's history, having been acquired for a whopping INR 24.75 crore.
He became the second cricketer, after his Australian teammate Pat Cummins, to surpass the 20-crore mark in the IPL. After his acquisition, Starc eagerly shared his anticipation for playing at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
In a video posted on the official Twitter handle of the KKR, Starc conveyed his excitement, saying, "Hey, KKR fans; I'm thrilled to be joining the team for this year's IPL. And I can't wait to get to Eden Gardens to experience the home fans, the home crowd, and the atmosphere. I look forward to seeing you then. Ami KKR."
Four teams—KKR, Delhi Capitals (DC), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Gujarat Titans (GT)—engaged in a bidding war before the Men in Gold and Purple secured him.
The southpaw Starc was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2014 and 2015 IPL editions. In 2018, the KKR acquired him for INR 9.40 crore, but he couldn't participate due to an injury.
Starc played a crucial role in Australia's triumphant 2023 World Cup journey in India. He took 16 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.06. Sanjay Manjrekar had previously acknowledged Starc's exceptional skills, emphasising how he nullifies the influence of the pitch. Starc's talent in generating swing and consistently delivering yorkers, whether with the new ball or during the death overs.
As Starc became the most expensive player in the history of the IPL auction, all 10 teams in the auction room applauded his purchase. He surpassed the record set earlier in the day when Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) acquired the World Cup-winning captain Cummins for Rs 20.50 crore.
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