“Red-ball cricket is still top of the tree for me” Mitchell Starc will prioritize Test cricket despite a whopping price in IPL auction.

In a recent development during the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc garnered significant attention, securing a remarkable deal worth $4.42 million (INR 24.75 cr) with the Kolkata Knight Riders. This substantial contract not only solidified Starc’s place in IPL history but also marked his comeback to the T20 tournament after a prolonged absence.

The auction night unfolded as a thrilling rollercoaster ride, featuring a three-way bidding war that ultimately favored the Kolkata Knight Riders. Starc’s compatriot and Australian captain, Pat Cummins, had earlier secured a $3.67 million (INR 20.50 cr) deal, setting the stage for an intense bidding battle that culminated in Starc clinching the record for the highest bid ever for an Australian cricketer.Renowned for his formidable pace on the cricket field, Starc found himself amidst lighthearted banter leading up to the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan. Interestingly, it was Starc who had teased Cameron Green for his IPL earnings last year, and now the tables have turned. Green, who earned $3.15 million (INR 17.5 cr) in the previous auction, seized the opportunity to playfully retaliate against Starc.

Starc said “It’s probably somewhat fair … the bowlers have been giving Greeny stick for the past 12 months for his IPL stuff, and he didn’t miss a chance yesterday or today, I didn’t plan on watching it, but the storms blew up in Sydney, so I couldn’t take the dogs for a walk like I had planned to.”

Starc’s return to the IPL, ending a hiatus since 2015, was influenced by the gap in the Test schedule and the upcoming Twenty World Cup. Opting for the IPL over spending time in the nets for a couple of months, Starc underscored his dedication to international and Test cricket.

“Red-ball cricket is still top of the tree for me, my body will probably let me know about Test cricket [being over for me] before I want it to. It’s a nice lead into the T20 World Cup next year with the IPL and quality of cricket that tournament presents”.