Even as Mitchell Starc bagged an AUD 4.2 million (INR 24.75 crore) deal from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2024 auction, the Australian fast bowler gave a mini-scare to the KKR fans with his latest comment on Test cricket.
Barring any injury from now to March, and a sudden change of his heart, Mitchell Starc will make his much-awaited IPL comeback next year. He last featured in the league in the 2014 and 2015 seasons for RCB. He was picked by KKR in the 2018 auction, too, but pulled out due to an injury. He has since pulled out of the auctions due to either injuries or managing workload.
Since 2015, Mitchell Starc has won 2 ODI World Cups, 1 T20 World Cup and the World Test Championship mace.
Ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan in Melbourne, Mitchell Starc met reporters at the MCG.
He said: “Red ball is still top of the tree for me.”
This statement from the left-arm pacer went viral on social media on Sunday and KKR fans made some funny tweets on this.
Between now and the IPL, Australia have 6 more Test matches (2 left vs Pakistan, 2 each vs West Indies and New Zealand) and Starc intends to feature in all of them. The KKR management, which includes Gautam Gambhir who was at the auction table bidding for Starc, and the KKR fans would be praying that their big-money signing doesn’t get injured in this period.
Fans react to “Red ball is still top of the tree” comment from Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc reiterated the point of getting crucial IPL experience in the lead up to the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA.
“There’s a T20 World cup, it’s a nice lead-in to that with the IPL and the quality of cricket that tournament presents. In terms of the schedule, it’s much more quiet,” he said.
The IPL 2024 is reportedly to start on March 22.
