During the IPL 2024 auction last December, Australian speedster Mitchell Starc was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a hefty sum of INR 24.75 Crore, making him the most expensive buy in the league’s history.
While the IPL 2024 is still in its initial stage, Starc has failed to do justice to his whopping price tag so far. The left-arm pacer conceded 100 runs from eight overs and couldn’t claim a wicket in KKR’s first two matches against SRH and RCB.
In the next two outings against DC and CSK, Starc was somewhat impressive as he returned with the figures of 2/25 and 0/19 in three overs.
On the eve of KKR’s match against LSG at the Eden Gardens, team mentor Gautam Gambhir came to the defence of Mitchell Starc, highlighting that the Australian pacer's recent struggles in the IPL do not define his abilities as a bowler.
"It (his poor stats) doesn't matter, T20 cricket is all about bowlers getting smashed. We've got three wins out of four," Gambhir said.
He added, “In a team sport, it's the wins that matter. We have got three wins out of four. Why should I not be happy with anyone's performance? See, people have bad and good days, ultimately, it's the team that needs to win.
"And we've got decent results in the first four games of the competition. And we all know how big a threat Mitchell Starc is. Four games doesn't make him a bad bowler.
"And four good games doesn't make him a brilliant bowler either. So I know what impact he can create and what impact he will create in the competition.”
Gambhir backed the Aussie fast bowler to make an "impact" going forward. "Tomorrow it might be a completely different day. Or probably going forward, it could be a completely different day. An individual can have a brilliant performance and the team doesn't end up winning.”
"There's no reason why you should talk about individual performance. I feel that Mitchell Starc has done reasonably okay. I think he's bowled some tough overs. And he will create an impact, what he's been picked for," he said.
Gambhir was associated with LSG in the last couple of seasons. During that period, KKR failed LSG three times and failed to secure a victory.
However, Gambhir remains optimistic about the new season, emphasising that each day presents a fresh opportunity.
"It's a new day, new start. What difference does it make that what has happened in the last two years? It really makes no difference. We start from scratch.
"All of us are really looking forward to the game tomorrow. You know, it's a quality side. But we are a quality side as well,” he said.
Gambhir also addressed queries on KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit's "militant style" of functioning.
"I don't read a lot about what has been said and stuff, but it's been early days. My working relationship with him has been really, really good and hopefully it continues that way.
“He's been very successful in domestic cricket and that's why he got this opportunity, so far it's been really good working with him.”
(With PTI inputs)
