Impressive performances for Kolkata Knight Riders and the city’s delicacies — these are on Australian star Mitchell Starc’s wishlist as he gets ready for his IPL comeback in the Knights’ purple-and-gold.
The tournament’s costliest buy ever, Starc couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome, as the Knight Riders get ready to face Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens on Saturday.
The Rs 24.75 crore he drew at the December auction did come as a “shock and surprise” to the Australia left-arm speedster, but in the face of his experience and potential, the price tag doesn’t bring in any added pressure.
“After a big gap from the IPL, you’re never quite sure if you still create that interest and if teams still want you. So yeah, I was certainly surprised with what took place on the auction table.
“But I have played 14-15 years of professional cricket, so I have developed as a player and learnt through experiences. I do like to think I have developed as a person and player since I was here at the IPL the last time,” Starc said at the team hotel on Wednesday.
Starc last featured in the IPL, in 2015 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, as the franchise was called then.
“I’m 34 now and played enough international cricket to know that price tag brings its own pressure, which is a part and parcel of that number. But being an international player in the IPL brings its own pressure as well as you’re expected to win games.
“So price tag or not, as internationals, you are expected to do those things.”
Starc — who’s “keen to explore the city and try out the biryani here and other local food items” — acknowledged that preparation for the T20 World Cup was also a factor in changing his approach towards the IPL and agreeing to take part this year.
“The schedule has been a little lighter for the Australian stuff throughout the winter. So, that presented a good opportunity to play some cricket,” he said. “Besides that, obviously, we’ve got the T20 World Cup. So, an opportunity to play some T20 cricket in the best league in the world was a good chance to prepare myself.”
Praise for Rinku
Starc had his first training session on Tuesday, and in the intra-squad game, Rinku Singh took him on in his second spell. For Starc, what stood out was the young batter’s approach.
“Yesterday (Tuesday) was the first I had seen of Rinku. He’s a talented batter, hits the ball a long way and pretty clear in his approach... Getting to know him better as a person and player.”
Young quicks impress
How the relatively young pace attack delivers in Australia later this year will be massive for India’s prospects of winning yet another series Down Under. Pointing out the “depth” in the current Indian fast bowling resources, KKR’s 19-year-old Sakib Hussain from Bihar — who has played only two T20s for his state team — has grabbed Starc’s attention.
“There’s plenty of talent around (in India) in terms of pace. In the practice game last night, I came across a lot of raw talent with some swing, bounce and carry.
“I bowled alongside Sakib, who has got good slower balls. He got Andre (Russell) out. I look forward to see how that talent progresses through the season. If they have
questions for me, I’m happy to help them with my experience,” he added.
Opponent Pat
KKR’s first game this season is against Sunrisers, and up against Starc will be his Australian captain Pat Cummins, a former Knight as well. In Starc’s words, Saturday would be the first time the pace duo will be in opposite teams, and no wonder, he’s thrilled about the exciting times ahead.
“I haven’t played against Pat before. It will be new for both of us,” Starc said of the Sunrisers skipper. “As a captain in Tests and ODIs, he’s so calm and precise in the way he wants to go about his cricket and his leadership. That has obviously reflected well in the way the team has played and the success we have had. I’m itching to see how he goes on in T20 cricket.”
