 "Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Mitchell Starc justified his hefty price tag of Rs 24.75 crore with consecutive match-winning performances in the IPL 2024 playoffs. PTI")
Mitchell Starc expressed his dissatisfaction with the post-match presentation ceremony following Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2024 trophy winning exploits. In the final, KKR beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to clinch their third title.
Starc, the Australian fast bowler, was particularly unimpressed with the delayed start of the trophy ceremony, which commenced well after KKR had secured the win. Nearly two hours after the conclusion of the match, the presentation began, slightly dampening the celebratory atmosphere for Starc and his teammates.
Typically, the post-match ceremony of an IPL final involves interviews with players from the winning team, appearances by team owners such as Shah Rukh Khan in this case, acknowledgments of dignitaries present at the event, and recognition of those involved in organising the tournament.
Furthermore, the runners-up receive their individual medals before the champions raise the trophy. While winning the IPL title after a decade was a momentous occasion for KKR, Starc felt that the elaborate ceremony dragged on a bit too long.
Starc also shared his teammate Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s reaction to seeing the substantial prize money for the winners.
Raghuvanshi, a 19-year-old player, was surprised by the amount, commenting humorously that it wasn’t even close to what Starc earned. The Aussie was lapped up for a record Rs. 24.75 crore in the auction.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Any chances of presentation, you ask? Well, two hours later. The game finished at 10pm and the presentation hasn’t even started by midnight. It killed the vibe.
“We’re sitting down and young Anky [Angkrish Raghuvanshi] who is our No. 3; he sees the winner’s cheque coming. The team got Rs. 20 crore for winning the final. And he goes ‘Huh! It’s not even what you got paid’,” Starc said on the LiSTNR Sport podcast.
Starc praised Anky, a member of India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning team, for his contributions for KKR during the season.
In addition to discussing the ceremony, Starc reflected on his performance in IPL 2024, where he made a significant impact after a slow start.
Despite being the most expensive buy, Starc justified his price tag by finishing with 17 wickets, excelling in crucial matches like the Qualifier 1 and the final. His dismissal of Travis Head in the final, reminiscent of a key wicket he took in the 2015 World Cup final, holds a special place in Starc’s collection of memorable moments.
“Yeah, it’s probably right up there, with the one I bowled to Brendon McCullum in the 2015 World Cup final,” said Starc.