IPL Auction: KKR CEO Venky Mysore Says Mitchell Starc is 'Preferred Player from Skill Set Standpoint'

Mitchell Starc on Tuesday became the costliest player in the IPL history after Kolkata Knight Riders snapped him for a whopping Rs 24.75 crore in the auction and the team’s CEO Venky Mysore justified the price tag, saying the Australian speedster “was a preferred player from skill-set standpoint”.

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Not long after Australia captain Pat Cummins fetched an unprecedented Rs 20.50 crore from Sunrisers Hyderabad, the KKR raised the bar for a record-breaking bid for Starc, who last played in the IPL in 2015.

Back after an eight-year gap, left-arm quick Starc was in demand as soon as his name was put under the hammer with Mumbai and Delhi vying for his service.

Both, however, retreated as bidding intensified and Kolkata trumped Gujarat Titans by offering the winning bid for the 33-year-old.

“… obviously he (Strac) was a preferred player from skill set standpoint. Initially, we were not successful in some of the bids. Maybe that worked in our favour, because we did end up having money to do this. So we’re just thankful that we were able to have him on our side,” Mysore said.

“It shows the value of the player and the skill set he (Starc) possesses. He’s a fabulous player.”

He said spending on a particular player is a matter of perspective and each franchise decides how to “slice” its purse differently.

“…now it seems like wow, Rs 24.75. I was telling someone that the salary cap of a team when IPL started in 2008 was Rs 20 crore. So things have changed. When the auction is over, all the 10 teams are going to walk out having spent 100 crores and each team decides to slice it differently,” he said.

“So what you’ve paid to somebody … is a matter of perspective. Ultimately, we’re all spending the same amount of money. When you plan your team, from a retention standpoint, with the auction far away, you’ve no idea of who are the players being released from other teams, trades happening, and all that. So it’s a very dynamic environment.”

It was an intense bidding war between KKR and Gujarat Titans for Starc before the former lapped up the Australian left-arm pacer for a record deal.

(With inputs from Agencies)