Cricket

Irfan Pathan Questions Mitchell Starc's Performance After Costly Outing Against Rajasthan RoyalsFormer Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has raised concerns over the performance of Mitchell Starc, the most expensive player in IPL history, following his disappointing outing against the Rajasthan Royals. Starc, who was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a staggering Rs 24.75 crore, conceded 50 runs in his four-over spell during KKR's narrow loss.Pathan expressed his apprehension on Twitter, stating, "Most expensive player in your team can't be your weak link." Starc's performance against RR was a stark contrast to his previous match against the Lucknow Super Giants, where he had shown signs of improvement by taking three wickets while giving away only 28 runs in his four overs.However, against RR, Starc struggled to maintain that form. His opening over went for 11 runs, setting the stage for a high-scoring chase. In the powerplay, he bowled two overs, remained wicketless, and conceded 24 out of the total 76 runs scored. Despite the efforts of Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana, who each claimed a wicket, Starc failed to provide the necessary support.As the chase intensified, Shreyas Iyer's decision to rely on Starc proved costly. The Australian pacer gave away 18 runs in the 18th over, reducing the equation from 46 runs in 18 balls to a more manageable 28 runs in 12 balls. Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy were unable to defend the target in the final two overs, as RR secured the victory on the last ball of the match.Pathan's criticism highlights the pressure on Starc to justify his hefty price tag. As the most expensive player in the IPL, he is expected to be a key performer for KKR. However, his recent performances have fallen short of expectations, raising questions about his ability to deliver under pressure.

Mitchell Starc, the most expensive player in IPL history, has finally found his rhythm in the tournament, delivering a match-winning performance against Lucknow Super Giants. After a slow start, Starc turned the tide with a three-wicket haul for 28 runs, helping Kolkata Knight Riders secure an eight-wicket victory.Despite the initial struggles, Starc remained unfazed by the expectations and criticism. "I don't read anything, so that doesn't bother me," he said after the match.Returning to the IPL for the first time since 2015, Starc admitted to adjusting to the tactical nuances of the shortest format. "It's more [about] getting used to the tactical side of it," he explained. "I haven't played a lot of T20 cricket in the last couple of years, so it has probably taken me a little bit longer than I would have liked to get back into the rhythm of things."Against LSG, Starc's powerplay spell yielded 23 runs but included eight dots and the wicket of Deepak Hooda. In the final over, he conceded only six runs and struck twice, dismissing Nicholas Pooran and Arshad Khan.With the T20 World Cup approaching, Starc emphasized the importance of managing his workload. "I'm 34, so I'm pretty good with my workloads," he said. "I've been doing this [for] a long time. We play again on Tuesday, and I think that's a feature of T20 cricket. Whether you have a good day or a bad day, games come around so quickly that you can't really think about what's been; you quickly focus on the next game."Starc's resurgence is a timely boost for Kolkata Knight Riders, who are aiming to qualify for the playoffs. His experience and skill will be crucial as the tournament enters its final stages.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir has defended Mitchell Starc's underwhelming performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), emphasizing the team's success over individual brilliance. Despite being acquired for a hefty ₹24.75 crore, the Australian left-arm pacer has managed only two wickets at an average of 77 and an economy rate of 11 runs per over in four matches.Gambhir, however, remains unfazed by Starc's struggles, stating, "It doesn't matter, T20 cricket is all about bowlers getting smashed. We've got three wins out of four." He believes that Starc's impact will be felt in the tournament's later stages."Four games doesn't make him a bad bowler. And four good games doesn't make him a brilliant bowler either. So I know that what impact he can create and what impact he will create in the competition," Gambhir said.Gambhir's comments come ahead of KKR's match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), a team he mentored for the past two seasons. Despite KKR's inability to defeat LSG in three previous encounters, Gambhir insists that it's a new start."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," he said.Gambhir also addressed criticism of KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit's "militant style" of functioning. "My working relationship with him has been really, really good and hopefully it continues that way," he said.

Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Starc: A T20 Duel for the AgesWhen Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday night, the spotlight will inevitably fall on the tantalizing prospect of Virat Kohli facing off against Mitchell Starc. This highly anticipated encounter marks the first time these two cricketing giants will cross paths in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Starc, who is making his IPL return after a seven-year hiatus, was once a teammate of Kohli at RCB in 2015. Despite their shared history, they have never faced each other in the tournament. However, experts believe that Starc's left-arm swing bowling could pose a significant threat to Kohli's formidable batting prowess."I quite like [Starc's] match-up to Virat, the ability to swing the ball back down the line as a lefty," said Steven Smith, a former Australian captain and current ESPNcricinfo expert. "We have seen him [Kohli] get out on a few occasions to Shaheen Afridi, Trent Boult, Mohammad Amir."Smith believes that Starc will likely attempt to exploit Kohli's tendency to drive away from his body, similar to the strategy employed by Sam Curran in RCB's opening match against Punjab Kings. "Starcy's going to swing the ball back down the line early on, I'd imagine, and then use the wobble seam to go across him [Kohli], and potentially try and nick him off," Smith explained.Despite Starc's reputation as a world-class bowler, Kohli has a solid record against left-arm pace in T20 cricket. In 28 deliveries faced against Starc, Kohli has scored 47 runs without being dismissed. However, Smith believes that Kohli has likely studied Starc's bowling patterns and will be prepared for the challenge."You obviously learn as you go along, and you understand what players are trying to do to try and get you out," Smith said of Kohli. "I'm sure he would have seen that [data], and tried to improve on that throughout. So it's going to be a nice match-up."The Kohli-Starc duel is just one of the many intriguing storylines that will unfold in this highly anticipated IPL encounter. With both teams boasting a wealth of talent, the stage is set for a thrilling spectacle that will keep cricket fans on the edge of their seats.

Mitchell Starc's underwhelming performance in Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) nail-biting 4-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has raised concerns despite the team's triumph.Starc, who was acquired for a staggering Rs 24.75 crore in the IPL 2024 auction, failed to live up to expectations in his much-anticipated return to the KKR lineup. The Australian speedster struggled against SRH batters throughout his spell, leaking 53 runs in his four-over quota.Despite maintaining a pace above 140kmph, Starc's economy rate of 13.20 and six wide deliveries highlighted his struggles. Tasked with leading the bowling attack while defending a formidable target of 209, Starc's performance was inconsistent.While he started by conceding 12 runs in his first over, he failed to maintain control, conceding 10 runs in the second. Although he bounced back with an impressive 16th over, conceding only 5 runs, his costly 19th over, where he gave away 26 runs, allowed SRH to mount a significant comeback.Starc's lackluster display has left Kolkata fans questioning his ability to justify his hefty price tag. Signed for a record-breaking amount, his performance against SRH has raised doubts about his potential impact for KKR this season.With the spotlight firmly on him, Starc will be under pressure to rediscover his form and make a meaningful contribution to Kolkata Knight Riders' campaign in the remainder of the IPL season.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will kick off the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season on March 23 in Kolkata. The match will feature the return of Shreyas Iyer, who missed the entire 2022 season due to a back injury. Iyer will lead KKR, who have made some tactical additions while keeping the nucleus of the side intact.KKR's most successful captain, Gautam Gambhir, is back as a mentor. His partnership with head coach Chandrakant Pandit, a shrewd tactician in the domestic circuit, will be key to their revival. The team's biggest signing is Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who will be under huge pressure to perform. His spell in power-play and the death overs will be crucial.SRH, under the leadership of Australian captain Pat Cummins, will also be looking to make a strong start. Cummins is the second-most expensive buy in this IPL and all eyes will be on him to revive the fortunes of the side that has had two wooden-spoon finishes in the last three seasons.On paper, KKR with a star-studded batting and spin-heavy attack to complement Starc's pace, will be overwhelming favorites. But SRH, under the shrewd captaincy of Cummins, will definitely fancy their chances. Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen's batting firepower in the power-play and death overs will be vital. Their bowling also looks balanced with the experienced Cummins and India's veteran death-overs specialist Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the lineup, while the likes of Washington Sundar and Wanindu Hasaranga will be crucial in the spin department.

Nitish Rana, the left-handed batter of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), is ready to lead the team again if required, despite the return of first-choice skipper Shreyas Iyer. Rana, who was appointed captain last year due to Iyer's unavailability, hopes that Iyer remains fit throughout the season."Shreyas is back with the team and is quite fit. Of course, he had fitness issues in the past, and we cannot take anything for granted. I hope I do not have to take up this responsibility again, as we are hoping Shreyas leads in all the matches," Rana said.However, Rana is prepared to step into the captain's role if necessary. "If a situation arises where I have to wear the captain's band again, I am ready for it. I was made the captain last year, and that was the biggest thing for me. Although we did not achieve everything we wanted, yet it was the greatest experience for me," he added.Despite last year's disappointing performance under his captaincy, Rana believes the team has a positive mindset this season. "This time, our team is very positive, and you can feel it in the dressing room. There is a determination to win, which wasn't so strong last year. Everyone is thinking about the trophy," he said.KKR has invested heavily in Mitchell Starc, the Australian fast bowler, who is expected to bolster the team's bowling attack. Rana believes Starc's experience will be invaluable. "Starc is too experienced to let the price tag affect him. We had been missing a death bowler, and he has filled up that spot. He knows what needs to be done. In fact, I feel he will be one of our main performers this time," Rana said.While Starc will be a key player, Rana also highlighted the potential of KKR's young pacers. "Last year, all our three young pacers (Chetan Sakariya, Vaibhav Arora, and Harshit Rana) did well in bits and pieces, and we expect them to do the same this time. This is a chance for them to learn from Starc," he said.Rana also expressed his desire to be selected for the upcoming World T20 squad. "Everyone wants to play for the country, and many players will have it in the back of their mind, but we have to stay in the present. I too want to get selected for the World T20 squad, but at this moment, I am thinking only about the IPL. I believe I can get 600 runs in this tournament, and I will be aiming for that," he said.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, are determined to make a strong comeback in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. After a disappointing performance last year, the team has made significant acquisitions at the mini-auction, including the high-profile signing of Mitchell Starc.KKR's batting lineup boasts a formidable array of power hitters, including Phil Salt, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, and Sunil Narine. The team's spin attack is equally impressive, with Varun Chakravarthy and Mujeeb Ur Rahman providing a potent combination.However, KKR's pace bowling remains a concern. Despite the addition of Mitchell Starc, the team lacks experienced pacers who can consistently deliver in the death overs. The overreliance on Starc could prove to be a weakness if he fails to perform.The return of Gautam Gambhir as mentor and the availability of Shreyas Iyer after his injury layoff are major positives for KKR. Gambhir's leadership and Iyer's captaincy skills will be crucial for the team's success.KKR's finishers, such as Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, and Andre Russell, have the potential to be game-changers. However, Russell's recent form has been inconsistent, and Narine's batting has also been underwhelming. The team will need these players to perform at their best to achieve success.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is poised to be an exciting spectacle, with teams bolstering their squads through the recent auction. While some teams have maintained their core, others have made significant acquisitions.Australian pace duo Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc commanded record-breaking bids, fetching over Rs 20 crore each for SunRisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively. This marked the first time the Rs 20 crore threshold was surpassed in IPL history.Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa believes that the absence of a salary cap would result in astronomical salaries for Indian players. He estimates that as many as 10 Indian players could command over Rs 100 crore if the purse limit were removed."With an open auction and no purse limit, we have 10 players who can get over 100 crore," Uthappa said on News24 Sports. "Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal would all be in that bracket."Uthappa, who has played for several IPL franchises, including Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore, emphasized the exceptional talent of these players. He highlighted their consistent performances, match-winning abilities, and fan following as factors that would drive their market value.The IPL's salary cap of Rs 100 crore per franchise ensures a level playing field and prevents teams from hoarding star players. However, Uthappa's comments raise questions about the potential financial implications if the cap were lifted.With the IPL 2024 season approaching, fans can expect intense competition and thrilling matches as teams vie for the coveted trophy. The presence of world-class players and the possibility of record-breaking salaries add to the anticipation surrounding the tournament.