Aakash Chopra is unsure whether the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise will be keen on acquiring Mitchell Starc even if he makes himself available for the next season of the tournament. Starc recently said that he wants to ply his trade in IPL 2024. While fellow Australian seamers like Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have often been seen playing in the IPL, the left-arm pacer has opted to stay away over the past few years. However, he feels next year’s tournament could be ideal preparation for the T20 World Cup.
Reflecting on the development in a video shared on her YouTube channel, Chopra said she was not sure Starc would find too many takers. he argued:
“Will someone buy him? He has never played after 2015. The problem with him has been that he has put his name many times and then pulled out. If you put your name and the team invests in you and then if you pull out before the tournament starts, you feel you have been betrayed. Teams don’t forget the betrayal that easily.”
The former Indian opener said that prominent foreign players have decided to opt out of the IPL after not getting a good deal. He elaborated:
“So it’s going to be very interesting and everyone knows as well that if they are not sold for good money, then they pull out. No one says it officially but we have seen it many times, whether it is the English or Australian players. Teams don’t forget that, they remember.”
Aakash Chopra said that even if Starc puts his name down and commits, teams will be a bit skeptical about spending big money on him. He added that even if they choose to acquire him, they will also need to have a backup plan in mind.
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“He Has Been Absolutely Phenomenal” – Aakash Chopra On Mitchell Starc’s IPL Record
However, Aakash Chopra admitted that Mitchell Starc is an invaluable asset. He said:
“What does Mitchell Starc bring to the table? He has been absolutely phenomenal. Whenever he has played in the IPL, he has been that runaway wicket-taker with both the new and old ball.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted that the former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) seamer is both astute and economical. He said:
“He is actually unstoppable. From what I remember, he didn’t even use to give seven runs per over and used to come and hit the ball on the stumps. The ball doesn’t reverse in T20s but he used to do that as well. So Mitchell Starc is absolutely wonderful.”
Mitchell Starc took 34 wickets in 27 IPL matches he played for RCB at an excellent economy rate of 7.17. While in the 2014 season, he took 14 wickets in as many matches at an economy rate of 7.49, in the 13 matches he played in the following edition, he dismissed 20 players at an exceptional economy rate of 6.76.
