3 teams that should target Mitchell Starc in the IPL 2025 Auction ft. Punjab Kings
Defending champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) - Kolkata Knight Riders - sprung a surprise ahead of the upcoming mega auction when they released star fast bowler Mitchell Starc. The Aussie pacer was one of the finest players for KKR in their title-winning campaign earlier this year, having picked up 17 wickets in 14 matches. His average of 26.11 was rather impressive.
The left-arm pacer, however, shouldn't feel distraught, as it seems highly unlikely that he will not be picked up by any franchise in the upcoming auction.
Starc has picked up 193 wickets in 142 T20s in his career at an economy of 7.77, which speaks volumes about his craft. The 34-year-old will be in high demand in the auction on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
In this listicle, we take a look at three teams who should target Starc in the auction:
#1 Kolkata Knight Riders
It is a no-brainer that Kolkata Knight Riders, for whom Starc played remarkably well in the IPL last season, should try to bid for him. Although they chose to let him go, the Knights can use the Right to Match option.
Starc is a genuine match-winner who can tilt the game in favor of the Knights if he gets his rhythm going. KKR know how valuable it is, and perhaps the constraints of wages forced them to let him go.
Starc would love to return to Kolkata as he enjoyed a fine time there last season. Having picked up 17 wickets at an economy rate of 10.61 last campaign, KKR would be delighted to have him back.
#2 Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings are another franchise that would like Starc in their ranks given the kind of values they adhere to. CSK are among those rare teams who value the experience their players bring to the table and respect the efforts their senior cricketers put in while not disregarding the juniors.
Having retained no foreign pacers apart from Matheesha Pathirana ahead of the auction, it will be interesting to see Starc as part of CSK. He will bring his brand of fiery Australian flair to the franchise, and CSK will benefit greatly from having a zippy left-arm quick in their ranks.
#3 Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings, who retained just two players ahead of the auction - Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh - will want to bid high for Starc. He can offer them a lot of value with the pace he generates when the ball is new and later when it gets old. On the pacy pitches of Mohali, Starc can be a real value addition.
PBKS have left a lot of their purse empty, and this could be a smart move precisely to draw in talents such as Starc to their ranks. With their ability to pay a lot, PBKS will want to spend their money wisely, and Starc, with his IPL and World Cup-winning credentials, seems to be a rather safe bet.