Former India head coach Ravi Shastri heaped praise on Mitchell Starc’s ability to step up under pressure, saying his performance in the IPL 2024 knockout matches has silenced the critics who questioned his price tag at the start of the season.
Mitchell Starc’s redemption in playoffs
Starc was procured by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a whopping INR 24.75 crore (US$ 2.98 million approx.) at the auction before the IPL 2024. Despite his 8-year absence from the IPL, Starc’s potential as a game-changer was recognized, leading to this significant investment. However, his initial performances in the season were not up to expectations, with an economy rate over 10. This led to criticism from fans and pundits alike, questioning the justification for his high price tag.
However, Starc’s performances in the IPL 2024 knockout matches silenced these critics. In the IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 between KKR and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Starc dismantled the top order of SRH during a fantastic 3-over spell. He started the game by dismissing Travis Head off the second ball of the first over with a brilliant delivery. Starc continued to trouble the SRH batters and got two more wickets in his third over.
In the IPL 2024 final against SRH, Starc unleashed a devastating performance with the new ball. He rattled the SunRisers top-order in the big final in Chennai with wickets of Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi. His performance left SRH reeling at the end of the powerplay as they lost three big wickets in the first six overs.
AN ABSOLUTE RIPPER! 🤩
As spectacular as it gets from Mitchell Starc ⚡️
He gets the in-form Abhishek Sharma early 🔥
Watch the match LIVE on @JioCinema and @StarSportsIndia 💻📱#TATAIPL | #KKRvSRH | #Final | #TheFinalCall pic.twitter.com/K5w9WIywuR
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 26, 2024
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri heaped praise on Starc’s ability to step up under pressure, saying his performance in the IPL 2024 knockout matches is a ‘big slap’ to the critics who questioned his price tag at the start of the season. Shastri’s comments highlight the importance of Starc’s contributions to KKR’s success in the tournament.
“Nice slap to all those critics. Just the way he has stepped up in the semis and finals,” Ravi Shastri said during commentary in the big IPL final.
Starc’s performances in the IPL 2024 have proven that he is worth every penny of his high price tag. His ability to deliver under pressure and his consistent performances have played a crucial role in KKR’s success in the tournament.
Also Read: Starc and Vaibhav outclass SRH openers with swing in the Powerplay
