Gautam Gambhir having tough 'price tag' conversations with Mitchell Starc? KKR coach reveals
Updated - 03 Apr 2024, 03:47 PM
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Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowling coach, Bharat Arun, supported Mitchell Starc despite his subpar bowling performances in the IPL 2024. Bharat Arun stated that it’s only a matter of time before Mitchell Starc returns to his best form in the ongoing tournament.
The Kolkata Knight Riders have secured victories against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their first two matches. However, Mitchell Starc has yet to justify his significant price tag despite the team’s success in the tournament.
The veteran Australian pacer became the costliest player in the IPL when acquired by KKR for Rs 24.75 crore in last year’s auction. The left-arm pacer returned to the tournament after a nine-year hiatus, expected to lead the inexperienced pace bowling attack.
The 34-year-old conceded 53 runs in his four overs during the team’s first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Kolkata. His struggles continued in the second match, as he conceded 47 runs. He remained wicketless in the first two games, with figures of 8-0-100-0.
Mitchell Starc Is Probably One Of The Most Experienced – Bharat Arun
Ahead of their match against the Delhi Capitals, Bharat Arun voiced his confidence in Mitchell Starc‘s experience and adaptability, foreseeing an enhanced performance in upcoming matches.
“He is probably one of the most experienced bowlers in the world and also somebody who understands the conditions and adapts to it very well. I think you will a see a different version of him in the future games,” Arun said.
Mitchell Starc Understands What It Is – Bharat Arun
In response to a question about conversations with Mitchell Starc, Arun humorously remarked, ‘Nothing about the price tag, definitely.’ He emphasized ongoing conversations about Starc’s strengths and anticipated Starc’s return to form in the near future.
“We have been talking about his strengths. I’m sure he understands what it is and what it takes to succeed. The kind of experience he brings with him having played in all the conditions, it is just a matter of time before you see Starc return in his elements,” Arun added.
The Biggest Challenge For Us – Bharat Arun
Discussing the conditions in Visakhapatnam, Bharat Arun emphasized the team’s readiness to confront any situation, noting the presence of both spinners and pacers to address varying conditions.
“The biggest challenge for us would be to understand and adapt to conditions. We are up for anything. It is the same surface for both the teams. The pitch keeps changing like the weather. We have good options. We have extra spinners and quality pacers in the middle. Depending on the conditions tomorrow, we will select the team,” Arun concluded.
The Shreyas Iyer-led team will face the Delhi Capitals in their upcoming match at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, April 3. The Delhi Capitals have secured just one victory out of three matches.
KKR’s predicted playing XI (including impact sub): Phil Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Suyash Sharma.
