IPL’s defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will have to rebuild their team in the mega auction. Although they have retained their six core players, they had to release most of the players from the title-winning team. However, it has come to light in media reports that the KKR team is not considering re-buying Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, the most expensive player in IPL history, who played a key role in KKR’s victory in the playoffs in IPL 2024.
Starc won the Player of the Match award in both Qualifier-1 and Final during IPL 2024. However, the main reason for releasing Starc is being told to be an Indian bowler, who has also been released by his team ahead of the auction. This left-handed Indian pacer is none other than left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh. Arshdeep was India’s highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup 2024.
According to a Mint report, KKR is all set to bid on Arshdeep in the mega auction. The left-arm pacer took 19 wickets in 14 matches in IPL 2024. Also, he took 17 wickets in the T20 World Cup 2024. However, Arshdeep’s economy rate in IPL 2024 was more than 10, which is definitely a matter of concern, but the ability to bowl well in the death overs and take wickets in the powerplay is something that KKR will be eyeing. Arshdeep can also bowl yorkers consistently in the death overs. He will enter the auction pool as India’s most loved fast bowler. Arshdeep will also be in great demand during the auction and his selling price could be more than Rs 15 crore.
Arshdeep has been with the Punjab Kings team since 2019, but he was not retained before the mega auction this year. However, Punjab has Rs 110.5 crore in their auction purse and they also have four Right to Match (RTM) cards. Arshdeep can still return to the Punjab team. Punjab has retained Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh for next year. Kolkata Knight Riders have already retained two quality spinners in the form of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakraborty. Apart from this, they have also retained two fast bowlers in the form of Harshit Rana and Andre Russell. Also, Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh have been retained. KKR will enter the mega auction with Rs 51 crore in their purse.
Starc did not have a very good start to IPL 2024. He was bought for an IPL record fee of Rs 24.75 crore, but he ended the tournament in great style. His bowling in Qualifier 1 and the final did not allow Sunrisers Hyderabad to recover. He took a total of five wickets in those two matches. This time many teams will be eyeing Starc again. The IPL auction is to be held in Jeddah on the 24th and 25th of this month.
