Was Mitchell Starc pressurized by KKR after going wicketless in the first 2 games? Australian pacer opens up

Mitchell Starc became the highest-ever buy of the Indian Premier League after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bought him for Rs. 24.75 crores during the IPL 2024 mini-auction in December 2023. Although Mitchell Starc struggled to come up with a marvelous bowling show in the first two games, he bowled a magnificent spell in the last match

In KKR’s previous game vs Delhi Capitals on Wednesday (April 3), Starc leaked 25 runs across his 3 overs. At 8.30 economy, the left-arm pacer hunted 2 wickets. Notably, the KKR pacer dismissed his Aussie teammates David Warner and Mitchell Marsh cheaply in the match.

The Aussie pacer struggled in KKR’s earlier game vs RCB, where he conceded 47 runs across his 4-over spell at 11+ economy. He was also hit heavily in the opening game against SRH, giving away 53 runs across 4 overs without a wicket.

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Personal stuff aside, the team’s start has been fantastic: Mitchell Starc

While speaking to Star Sports after KKR’s victory against Delhi Capitals, Mitchell Starc said his team’s start has been fantastic in IPL 2024. Starc also overlooked his brilliant bowling show in the match.

“In a game of T20, we all need a little bit of luck, a few edges go by, a dropped catch or two, that’s T20 cricket. You move on pretty quickly because the games come thick and fast. Yeah, probably not the start I wanted, but we’ve been winning games, so that’s what it’s about. We’re three-nil. And tonight, with bat and ball, we were pretty good, I think”.

“It can be brutal at times, particularly on the bowlers. I think we’ve seen on some of the grounds, some of the scores… so yeah, you take a little bit of luck here and there. Yeah, we’re three-nil at the start of the season, and tonight we were pretty clinical with bat and ball. Personal stuff aside, the team’s start has been fantastic”, said Mitchell Starc, who made a comeback to IPL after the 2015 season.

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Certainly not me telling them how to bowl: Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc is paired with some young pacers in the KKR squad. When the Aussie pacer was asked whether he helped his young teammates on how to bowl vs DC, he rejected the credit.

“For me, it’s probably more conversations around training, around bowling meetings, when we’re taking on Dave and Mitch, who some of these guys haven’t played before. Certainly not me telling them how to bowl and tonight I thought our whole bowling attack was fantastic,” said the 34-year-old pacer.

KKR bags historic victory vs DC

Notably, all KKR bowlers picked wickets against Delhi Capitals. Pacer Vaibhav Arora was the best one with the ball; taking 3/27 in his 4 overs. Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy hunted 3 wickets for 33 while Andre Russell and Sunil Narine got 1 wicket each. All-rounder Venkatesh Iyer remained wicketless in his only over.

Kolkata Knight Riders gave their best-ever batting show in the DC vs KKR clash. With Sunil Narine (86), Andre Russell (41), and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (54) brilliant knocks, KKR posted a gigantic 272-7 in 20 overs. Later, they demolished Delhi Capitals for 166-10, winning the encounter by a massive 106 runs.