Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc created history by becoming the costliest purchase in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Kolkata Knight Riders secured Starc for a staggering amount of Rs 24.75 crore in the IPL 2024 Auction.
Mitchell Starc Became The Costliest Player In IPL History
Mitchell Starc was always anticipated to be one of the most significant and attention-grabbing purchases in the IPL 2024 Auction. Even before entering the auction, Starc reportedly had offers from as many as five franchises. Starc, with a base price of ₹2 crore, became the focal point of a bidding war between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. The auction room witnessed a heated Delhi vs. Mumbai battle until Delhi Capitals withdrew when the bidding reached ₹9.4 crore.
Later, Starc found himself in the midst of an intense bidding war during the IPL 2024 Auction, with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Gujarat Titans vying for his services. The battle reached its climax, and KKR emerged victorious, securing Starc with mentor Gautam Gambhir playing a pivotal role in the final decision.
After this record-breaking signing, KKR released a video on social media featuring the first reaction of the veteran Australian pacer. Speaking on the video uploaded on X (formerly called Twitter), Starc said:
“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,”
He added: “Yeah, it was a shock, if you call it. But, my wife, Alyssa Healy, is actually over in India with the women’s team,”
“And I think their coverage was slightly ahead of mine in Australia. So I was getting updates before I could see it on the screen. So, yeah, just as I said, pretty well, surprised, but, thrilled to be back involved in the IPL this coming season. And, yeah, really excited to be joining KKR,”
Watch the video:
Welcome back, record-breaker! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/KwSZui8GBj
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) December 19, 2023
Alyssa Healy’s Reaction To Starc’s Record-Breaking Deal
Meanwhile, Australia Women’s team captain, Alyssa Healy, who is currently in India leading the Women’s team in a multi-format series against Harmanpreet Kaur’s Indian team, expressed her joy and pride on Wednesday regarding her husband Mitchell Starc’s groundbreaking deal in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) Auction.
Healy described it as an “incredible moment” and deemed it a “fantastic day” for the Starc family. She said:
“I think it’s a great justification for the hard work that he’s put in and probably some of the choices that he’s made over the last eight years — to put his country first. So, yeah, a cool day,”
