3 reasons why PBKS must target Mitchell Starc in IPL 2025 Auction
Despite buying Mitchell Starc for a record-breaking sum of Rs 24.75 crores, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) decided to release him ahead of the mega auctions. Starc was nowhere close to his best during the league phase and was even dropped for one match.
However, he proved why he's regarded as a big match player as the left-arm speedster put his hands up and produced two magical spells in Qualifier 1 and the final, extending his franchise's stay in the championship title race. He was awarded Player of the Match in both matches but didn't manage to make the retention list for KKR.
Starc has enrolled his name in the upcoming auction and despite indifferent form in IPL 2024, he is expected to fetch a significant amount. Whether it will be a record-breaking sum or not remains to be seen but he will certainly be a player in demand.
Punjab Kings could end up potentially targeting Starc and try to revolve their bowling attack around him. They have retained only Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh which clearly suggests they want to build a team from scratch and Starc could be in their radar.
Let us now have a look at three possible reasons why Punjab Kings might target Mitchell Starc in the upcoming auction:
# 1. Punjab Kings have the biggest purse left and can go all out for Starc
The Punjab Kings will head into the auction with a whopping sum of Rs 110.5 crores and will build the team almost from scratch. It's a no-brainer that there will be a fierce bidding war for Starc.
He is a big match player and the Punjab Kings have lacked a genuine match-winning bowler in the last few years. Starc’s inclusion could actually turn their fortunes around.
# 2. The Aussie connection with Ricky Ponting at the helm
With Ricky Ponting being appointed as the head coach of the Punjab Kings, there is high possibility that Starc might be acquired by the team. Ponting was Starc’s captain at the beginning of the latter's career and knows him inside out.
When Ponting was at the helm of things at the Delhi Capitals, he used to pick players whom he felt could make a difference and Starc is certainly one of those big match players who can elevate Punjab to a force to be reckoned him. Ponting having known him so well puls push the franchise to buy him at any cost.
# 3. Like for like replacement for Arshdeep Singh
After a recent fallout with the Punjab Kings withstanding, Arshdeep Singh won't be playing for the Punjab Kings anymore. The left-arm seamer has deleted all his PBKS-related posts, suggesting all is not well between the two franchises.
In a situation like this, the Punjab Kings will desperately need someone to fill in his shoes, and who better than Mitchell Starc to fill that role? An international giant, to say the least, Starc could be a match-winning option with the ball for PBKS.