Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has always been a player who has been in much demand among the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, however, the player’s priority to play for Australia and injury has meant he last played in the IPL in 2015.
Mitchell Starc is one of the best left-arm pacer in the world at the moment. The Aussie bowler has established himself as one of the most lethal pace bowler in the world. His sheer pace and yorkers makes him an standout player.
Meanwhile, despite being much in demand among the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises since his last appearance in 2015, the bowler has several times opted out of playing in the biggest T20 league to focus playing for the Australian cricket team.
But, according to a recent statement from the Aussie, Mitchell Starc will put his name in the IPL 2024 Auction and this he is looking to participate in the tournament with the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is mind. So, on this occasion, let us take a look at 5 teams who would be looking to buy Mitchell Starc in the IPL 2024 Player Auction.
Chennai Super Kings
The IPL 2023 Champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) didn’t had a quality overseas pace bowler. The franchise also didn’t get full services of their 14 Crore player Deepak Chahar due to injury. Chennai Super Kings had only Sisanda Magala as an out and out pace bowler, thus the MS Dhoni led team will also look at buying Mitchell Starc in the IPL 2024 Auction. However, the team is also very much said to be keeping an eye on their sister team Joburg Super Kings’ Gerald Coetzee.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad looked one of the favourites of make it to the IPL 2023 playoffs, however, it was the complete opposite. Sunrisers Hyderabad finished bottom of the IPL 2023 points table with 4 wins only in 14 matches. Other than Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the other bowlers didn’t show much quality. Umran Malik, who was thought as the next big bowler for India, couldn’t contribute much while Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Faruqi also didn’t do much well. The addition of Mitchell Starc will really Sunrisers Hyderabad’s squad, however it’s for sure that he won’t be cheap.
Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals is another team that didn’t do well. They finished just 9th in the points table. Delhi had services of the likes of Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi, yet the team couldn’t well in the tournament. The addition of Mitchell Starc alongside Nortje will make Delhi Capitals a destructive force.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is a team that would with upgrade on its bowling department. While the team’s batting and all-rounders department looks good, there wasn’t much highlight in terms of their bowling. Other than Mohammed Siraj, no one really had a good season. Josh Hazlewood who was part of the squad, was out for the season due to injury. The addition of Mitchell Starc would make the RCB one of the most lethal team in the IPL 2024. Starc has also previously played for the team in the year 2014 and 2015.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is the team that really needs to work on its bowling department in the IPL 2024 Auction. Despite having a 10 crore worth of Lockie Ferguson, the pacer didn’t do well for the Knights in his 2nd stint. Veteran Indian pacer Umesh Yadav was also out of form and was dropped from the team. Youngsters Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora lead the team’s bowling in the last phases of the tournament.
With Lockie Ferguson likely to be released, KKR do need a quality pace bowler and Mitchell Starc could just be that player. However, the Knight Riders management are also keeping a close eye on another Australian pacer Spencer Johnson, who recently played for other Knight Riders Group team Los Angeles Knight Riders in the Major League Cricket (MLC) and recently made debut vs South Africa.
