IPL auction: Mitchell Starc bought for all-time auction record price

Determined to get their man, the Kolkata Knight Riders engaged in a frantic bidding war for the services of left-arm Aussie paceman Mitchell Starc, despite the Aussie not having played in the IPL for eight years. 

Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals began the bidding war, with the Knight Riders stepping in with the bid at Rs 9.8 Crore. After the Capitals and the Indians had both dropped out, the Titans went head-to-head with the Knight Riders, each raising the other’s bid until the Knights finally secured their man after more than 15 minutes with Starc’s name on the auction block.

The current ODI Cricket World Cup champs Australia were hot on the radar for IPL teams, with Aussie skipper Pat Cummins having earlier been picked by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 20.5 Crore. Cummins' sale broke the record for the most expensive IPL player ever bought on auction, which had been set by the sale of English all-rounder Sam Curran in 2023.

Curran had been picked up by the Punjab Kings for Rs 18.50 Crore in the auction for last season's player auction. The Kings finished in 8th place in the 2023 IPL season.

The 33-year-old Starc is currently ranked 12th in the ICC’s ODI rankings but is not in the T20i rankings due to his infrequent appearances. For Australia, he took 73 wickets at an average of 22.91 in 58 T20is, with best figures of 4/20 and a strike rate of 18.0. 

Starc's only previous season experience in the IPL was for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2014 and 2015 seasons, taking 34 wickets in 27 matches at an average of 20.38 at a strike rate of 7.16. His best innings figures were 4/15.