Mitchell Starc, the Australian fast bowler, is set to make a comeback to the Indian Premier League (IPL) after a long time. The towering fast bowler will represent Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2024 season. Starc’s return to the IPL has sparked discussions about his performance in T20 cricket. His record isn’t quite great in rhe last 2 years.
Starc’s T20 record since the 2022 T20 World Cup has been under scrutiny. He has played only two T20 matches outside of World Cups in one-and-a-half years. His last stint in the IPL dating back to 2015. During this period, Starc has conceded runs at a higher rate and has seen his bowling average rise. Thus he was excluded from the Australian T20 team.
Mitchell Starc T20 Record since 2022 World Cup
Mitchell Starc’s performance in T20 cricket outside international matches has been a topic of scrutiny. Post that period, he has had a notable increase in his economy rate. He has been conceding 8.14 runs an over compared to his career economy of 7.47. Additionally, his bowling average rose to 25.53 from 19.74 during this time frame. Particularly concerning has been his performance in the death overs. He has conceded 9.62 runs an over, significantly higher than his career economy of 8.74 in that phase. These numbers were a crucial factor in his exclusion from the World Cup squad in 2022.
Despite these numbers, Starc remains a sought-after player in T20 leagues, particularly the IPL. His ability to generate genuine pace, his left-arm angle, height, and swing bowling make him a valuable asset for any team. The IPL teams’ willingness to invest heavily in Starc reflects their appreciation for these attributes and their belief in his potential to deliver in the T20 format.
Shortage of quality bowlers?
One of the key reasons behind Starc’s appeal is the limited agency that bowlers have in T20 cricket. With ten wickets available, teams value bowlers who can create opportunities and make an impact, even if their recent form has been modest. In Starc’s case, his ability to consistently bowl above 145kph adds a dimension of threat that few bowlers can match.
Another factor working in Starc’s favor is his track record in other formats of the game. Despite his T20 numbers, Starc is considered a great in Test and ODI cricket. You can’t rule out class afterall. With all the technicalities correct, his skills are transferable to the T20 format. Moreover, longer-format specialists like Starc are often believed to be more adaptable to T20 cricket than vice versa. Also, he has hardly played a whole tournament in a while to judge his record.
Starc’s upcoming stint with KKR in the IPL presents an opportunity for him to address the anomalies in his T20 record. With a full season ahead of him, Starc has the chance to showcase his abilities and prove his critics wrong. His clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL opener will be a test of his resolve and a chance to set the tone for the rest of the season.
Mitchell Starc’s enigma in T20 cricket lies in his ability to attract big bids despite his middling numbers. His upcoming IPL campaign will be closely watched, as he seeks to reaffirm his status as one of the premier fast bowlers in the world across all formats.
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