 "Mitchell Starc was off to a forgettable start in IPL 2024, going wicketless for 53 runs on debut for the Kolkata Knight Riders. AP")
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir came to Australia pacer Mitchell Starc’s defence on Saturday on the eve of their IPL 2024 match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Kolkata, saying a few bad performances this season “does not make him a bad bowler”. In defending Starc, the former KKR captain also emphasized on team’s success over individual skills.
Starc became the most expensive player in the history of the IPL after the Knight Riders bought him for Rs 24.75 crore in the player auction in Dubai. The massive payday, however, also brought with it the weight of expectations for the left-arm quick, who had starred in Australia’s victory in last year’s ICC World Cup in India and was making his comeback into the world’s biggest T20 league after nearly a decade.
Starc has collected just two wickets so far this season at an average of 77 and an economy of 11, collecting two wickets for 25 runs in his only performance of note so far this season. He had a forgettable start with the Knight Riders before that, getting smashed for 53 runs in their season-opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“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 on the eve of KKR’s home game against LSG, the team that he had previously mentored before returning to the Knight Riders.
“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 that how big a threat Mitchell Starc is. Four games doesn’t make him a bad bowler.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“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,” the former India opener added.
Read | Starc on early days in IPL 2024: ‘Not the start I wanted, but we’ve been winning games’
Gambhir further said the Aussie will create 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.
A new start
Gambhir, who was Lucknow Super Giants’ mentor in last two seasons, has returned to his former team that won two titles (2012 and 2014) during his previous stint at KKR from 2011-17.
KKR could never win against LSG in three attempts while Gambhir was at the opposition dugout.
Gambhir said it’s a new day and they would start from scratch.
“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 further reacted to criticism about their 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.
Former KKR all-rounder David Wiese had earlier described Pandit as a strict disciplinarian and a militant-type coach.
With PTI inputs