Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) created history when they paid INR 24.75 Cr for Mitchell Starc in the recent IPL 2024 auction. This made Starc the most expensive player in IPL history and second, after Pat Cummins, to get a bid of over INR 20 Cr in the auction.

And KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir defended the franchise spending this much money on one player, calling Mitchell Starc an X-factor and someone who can lead their bowling attack.

Speaking to JioCinema in the lead-up to the new season of the cash-rich league, former KKR skipper Gambhir opined that veteran Starc will be of massive help to domestic bowlers at IPL 2024.

“He is an X-factor, there is no doubt about that. Someone who can bowl with the new ball, bowl in the death overs, and more importantly, someone who can lead the attack,” Gambhir said.

IPL 2024: KKR CEO Venky Mysore reacts to making record-breaking bid for Mitchell Starc

Starc will be 34 years old when he takes the field for KKR in IPL 2024. The Australian fast bowler has picked up 34 wickets in 27 IPL matches.

“He is going to be of massive help to our two domestic bowlers because both of them are very talented and you need someone to help them out in the middle and Starc covers those bases. It is not only about his bowling but also about leading the attack and helping all the guys around him. So, somebody will have to pay for it,” the former KKR captain added.

KKR added more bowling power to their arsenal and Gambhir said that the franchise would have a lot of depth in their bowling line-up following the arrival of Starc.

“We always wanted to have a stronger bowling attack and now we have the options with Mujeeb (Ur Rahman), Gus (Atkinson), Sunil (Narine), Varun (Chakravarthy), and Mitchell Starc along with two Indian seamers and Chetan Sakariya. Now, we have enough options where we can play different combinations looking at the venue as well. For me, it has always been about having a strong bowling lineup compared to a very strong batting lineup,” Gambhir concluded.

(JioCinema inputs)