Dubai: Australia’s Mitchell Starc has secured the title of the highest-paid player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by securing a spot on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs. 24.75 crore. The big question now is whether Starc’s significant investment will translate into a valuable contribution for the Kolkata team. History shows that high-priced acquisitions didn’t always guarantee a corresponding on-field performance.
Reflecting on the IPL’s history, it’s intriguing to observe that players who fetched hefty sums during auctions often struggled to deliver commendable results. Notable examples from the 2018 auctions include Ben Stokes (Chennai, Rs. 16.25 crore), Jaydev Unadkat (Rajasthan, Rs. 11.5 crore), Pat Cummins (Kolkata, Rs. 7.25 crore), Sam Curran (Punjab, Rs. 18.50 crore), Chris Morris (Rajasthan, Rs. 16.25 crore), and Yuvraj Singh (Delhi, Rs. 16 crore). Despite their high price tags, these players failed to live up to expectations during their respective seasons.
With Mitchell Starc making a return to the IPL after a long break, Kolkata will be banking on the Australian pacer to deliver a standout performance. Starc’s bid amount stands at Rs 24.75 crore, which is also counted as Rs. 1.76 crore per match, Rs. 44 lakh per over, and Rs. 7.36 lakh per bowler, based on projections for 14 matches in the group stage.
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