KKR sign Mitchell Starc for an IPL record INR 24.75 crores

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made history on Tuesday (December 19) by signing Mitchell Starc for a record-breaking price of INR 24.75 crores in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. This surpasses the previous record set earlier in the same auction when Sunrisers Hyderabad paid INR 20.50 crores for Pat Cummins. Starc and Cummins became the first players to cross the INR 20 crore-mark in IPL salary, surpassing Sam Curran's INR 18.50 crores payout from the previous year.

Starc previously played in the IPL eight years ago, taking 34 wickets in 27 games over the 2014 and 2015 seasons with an impressive economy rate of 7.17. In his T20 career, the 33-year-old has claimed 170 wickets in 121 matches at an economy of 7.45. KKR faced stiff competition from Gujarat Titans to secure Starc, resulting in an intense bidding war at Dubai's Coca Cola Arena. Interestingly, Starc was signed by the Knight Riders for INR 9.40 crores in the 2018 auction but missed the season due to a leg injury. He was later released from his contract due to contractual disputes with Cricket Australia.

"It's humbling to feel like I'm still wanted or needed," Starc said in an interview with JioCinema. "Hopefully, my experience over the years can contribute to the success of KKR in the IPL and leading up to it."

Starc expressed excitement about returning to the IPL after prioritizing international cricket and Test matches for Australia. With a quieter international schedule for the Australian team at the back end of this year and into the next, Starc saw this as an opportunity to participate in the IPL and play competitive T20 cricket alongside world-class players.

This IPL auction saw a significant focus on overseas fast bowlers. Cummins, who has had an outstanding year leading Australia to victories in the ODI World Cup, the World Test Championship, and a drawn Ashes series, set the initial record with his INR 20.50 crores signing by Sunrisers Hyderabad. RCB spent INR 11.50 crores to secure the services of West Indies bowler Alzarri Joseph. Harshal Patel became the Indian player with the highest signing amount when Punjab Kings bid INR 11.75 crores for him.

Other notable signings include Travis Head, who earned an INR 6.80 crore bid from SRH following his impressive performances in the World Cup, and Daryl Mitchell, who received an INR 14 crore bid from CSK, thanks to his contributions during New Zealand's run to the World Cup semifinals.

Rajasthan Royals, known for their big spending at auctions, made a significant early move by signing Rovman Powell for INR 7.4 crores to strengthen their lower-middle order. Delhi Capitals secured English batsman Harry Brook for INR 4 crores, a significant drop from the INR 13.25 crores he received from Sunrisers Hyderabad in the previous season.

Here are the top five bids from the auction:

1. Mitchell Starc - KKR - INR 24.75 crores
2. Pat Cummins - SRH - INR 20.5 crores
3. Daryl Mitchell - CSK - INR 14 crores
4. Harshal Patel - PBKS - INR 11.75 crores
5. Alzarri Joseph - RCB - INR 11.5 crores

World Cup Stars Secure IPL Contracts

Daryl Mitchell, a prominent player from the New Zealand cricket team, received a staggering bid of INR 14 crores from reigning champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL auction. CSK also added another successful World Cup player from New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra, to their team with a modest bid of INR 1.8 crores. Both Mitchell and Ravindra had exceptional performances during the Black Caps' journey to the World Cup semifinals in India. Mitchell's standout moments included scoring two centuries against India, while 23-year-old Ravindra became the first New Zealand batter to achieve three World Cup centuries in a single tournament.

Travis Head, who had not participated in the IPL since 2017, attracted a bid of INR 6.80 crores from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) following his impressive performances in the World Cup, which included a century in the final against India.

As expected, Rajasthan Royals made a significant splash at the auction, allocating more than half of their budget to secure Rovman Powell for INR 7.4 crores. Powell's signing will provide the team with valuable strength in their lower-middle order. The Royals also showed interest in English batting sensation Harry Brook for the second consecutive year. However, they withdrew from the race as Delhi Capitals signed him for a reduced price of INR 4 crores, a considerable drop from the INR 13.25 crores he received from Sunrisers Hyderabad in the previous season.