After an almost nine-year hiatus, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is gearing up for his highly anticipated return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) arena with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the upcoming 2024 edition. Starc’s jaw-dropping price tag of 24.70 crore in the auction has made headlines, solidifying his status as the most expensive player in IPL history after a fierce bidding war with the Gujarat Titans.

Having previously represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL’s early seasons, Starc is excited to embark on this new chapter with KKR, expressing his eagerness to reunite with the franchise. Reflecting on his IPL journey, Starc acknowledged his previous stint in the league and his decision to forego joining KKR in 2018, highlighting the anticipation surrounding his return to the fold. Across his two IPL seasons in 2014 and 2015 with RCB, Starc had notched up an impressive tally of 34 wickets.

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In an interview with cricket.com.au, Mitchell Starc shared his enthusiasm for the challenge ahead, underlining his preparedness to embrace the dynamic environment of the IPL. With a fresh roster of teammates and a renewed sense of purpose, Starc is poised to make his mark in the world’s premier T20 competition, relishing the opportunity to compete against the best in the business.

Not long now until Starc’s IPL return…

Get excited, @KKRiders fans! #UnplayablePodcast | @Qantas | #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/OMvfCwtTgZ

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 16, 2024

🚨| “Back to KKR where I was supposed to be in 2018” : Mitchell Starc #KKR | #IPL2024 | #MitchellStarc pic.twitter.com/lBu2Uq23tq

— KKR Karavan (@KkrKaravan) March 16, 2024

“It’s been eight years, I think. Back to KKR where I was supposed to be in 2018. So I’ll be back there for the chance to pull on the gold and purple. I guess my memories are a few and far between of back in 2014 and 2015 with RCB but yeah, really excited to get stuck in. Obviously, a new group of players. A bunch of guys I certainly haven’t met or been able to work with before,” Mitchell Starc expressed to cricket.com.au.

Recognizing the electrifying atmosphere and global appeal of the IPL, Starc anticipates an exhilarating season ahead, characterizing the tournament as a “circus” that encapsulates the essence of T20 cricket at its finest.

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“A couple of guys that I’ve, international guys that I’ve played against and come across. Yeah, it’s gonna be exciting. It’s definitely a new challenge. But yeah, it’ll be exciting. It’s always a bit of a circus when it is the best T20 league in the world. So, yeah I look forward to it,” Mitchell Starc remarked.

KKR is set to kick off their campaign against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23 at the iconic Eden Gardens, marking the beginning of what promises to be an enthralling IPL season.