Mitchell Starc: Decoding his sorry stats in IPL 2024
Mitchell Starc hasn't lived up to the expectations in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). The Australian was among the pacers to watch out for this year as Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for Rs. 24.75 crore at the 2024 auction. He, hence, became the most expensive player in IPL history. However, his returns have been pretty underwhelming. Let's decode his stats.
Second-worst economy rate in IPL 2024
Starc, who made a return to IPL after nine years, has struggled big time as he has managed just six wickets across seven games at 47.83. As per ESPNcricinfo, his economy of 11.48 is only better than Anrich Nortje (13.36) among pacers who have bowled at least 11 overs this season. He went wicket-less on four occasions and conceded 50-plus runs thrice.
His performance by phases
Starc has managed just three wickets in the 16 powerplay overs that he has bowled this season. His economy in this phase reads 10.81. Though his economy in middle overs (7-16) is 7.5, he went wicketless across four overs in this phase. He concedes runs at 16.80 in the final four overs (3 wickets). Starc, hence, has struggled across all phases.
Three-fer versus LSG
Starc conceded less than eight runs per over on just one occasion this season as he claimed a match-winning 3/28 in four overs against Lucknow Super Giants at the Eden Gardens. 1/55, 0/50, 0/29, 2/25, 0/47, and 0/53 are his figures in the other games. Starc's economy of 11.48 is the worst among KKR bowlers who have delivered at least three overs this year.
Most expensive player in IPL history
As mentioned, Starc became the most expensive IPL signing ever when KKR secured him for a mammoth Rs. 24.75 crore at the 2024 auction. They fought hard against Gujarat Titans before picking the Aussie speedster. Prior to 2024, Starc last played an IPL game in 2015, for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Here are his overall IPL numbers
Starc, who was mighty impressive in RCB colors, has raced to 40 wickets from 34 matches at 24.5. The tally includes an economy rate of 8.05. His overall T20 record is sensational as he has scalped 177 in 130 matches at a sensational economy rate of 7.68. Meanwhile, KKR have fared brilliantly despite Starc's poor form, winning five of their first seven games.
