In a dramatic turn of events at the 2024 IPL auction, Australian speedster Mitchell Starc has etched his name in the cricketing history books. He becomes the most expensive player ever to be bought in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The left-arm pacer secured a jaw-dropping deal with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a whopping Rs 24.75 crore, surpassing the previous record held by his compatriot Pat Cummins.
Cummins, who held the title of the most expensive buy until half an hour ago, had been acquired by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for Rs 20.50 crore. However, Starc’s impressive track record and lethal bowling prowess attracted an intense bidding war, ultimately culminating in the record-breaking deal with KKR.
Starc, known for his express pace and ability to swing the ball both ways, has been a force to be reckoned with in the shortest format of the game. His T20 international statistics speak volumes about his impact, boasting 73 wickets in 58 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 18.65 and an economy of 7.64. These stellar numbers made him a hot commodity in the auction, with franchises vying to secure his services for the upcoming IPL season.
CSK ropes in both New Zealand all-rounders
KKR, led by their strategic approach, went all out to secure Starc’s services, recognizing the match-winning potential he brings to the table. The auction witnessed intense bidding wars between the Gujarat Titans and KKR, but the team from the east emerged victorious in the pursuit of the Australian speedster.
Apart from Starc’s record-breaking deal, other notable transactions took place during the auction. The Chennai Super Kings made a significant investment, spending Rs 14 crore to acquire the services of Daryl Mitchell. They also added Rachin Ravindra to their squad. The Punjab Kings, on the other hand, bolstered their lineup by securing Harshal Patel and Chris Woakes.
As the cricketing world eagerly anticipates the IPL 2024 season, all eyes will be on Mitchell Starc to see if he can live up to the expectations associated with being the most expensive player in the history of the tournament.
Here is how fans react to Mitchell Strac’s buy:
His family today pic.twitter.com/xuzYiLHSRD
— Amit Shah (Parody) (@Motabhai012) December 19, 2023
God knows how much they will deliver
— Shivani (ShivkiVani) (@_Shivkivani) December 19, 2023
Ready to buy his own franchise pic.twitter.com/iQTXjvMWQY
— Wa?iyullah Budye (@WasiyullahB) December 19, 2023
MITCHELL STARC after getting 24.75 cr from India pic.twitter.com/TGXp5thZ2C
— ??..Rai ji..?? (@Vinod_r108) December 19, 2023
SRK film budget!
— Abdul Rehman (@abdulraymann) December 19, 2023
Stop this auction right now ?
— Raghav ? (@_there4you) December 19, 2023
Really, it's unbelievable! ?
— Kunal Yadav (@Kunal_KLR) December 19, 2023
It was a nice pick, congrats Stark! Akash Ambani having a blast in the auction. ? Breaking records with the highest bid in IPL history! ? pic.twitter.com/wvmL0o0ejS
— Guhan (@TheDogeVampire) December 19, 2023
History
— Classic Mojito (@classic_mojito) December 19, 2023
