'Nothing that I could've ever imagined' - Starc reacts to becoming the costliest IPL auction buy

The fast bowler with a left arm is excited to come back to the IPL. He is eager to use the new ball to swing it, reverse the old one and try his best to make the ball hit the wickets.

On Tuesday evening, Mitchell Starc was feeling anxious while watching the IPL 2024 auction from the comfort of his Sydney home. Prior to this, Starc had already accomplished a lot, having taken care of his lawn, walked his furry friends, gone shopping, and prepared his own meal.

Starc was feeling nervous as he waited for his turn to be auctioned off as a capped fast bowler in the fourth set. His friend and Australia captain, Pat Cummins, had already been chosen by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a whopping INR 20.5 crore (which is around US$2.569 million). This surpassed the previous record set by England all-rounder Sam Curran in the 2023 auction, making Pat Cummins the most expensive player in IPL history.

Before the auction, many experts and team leaders believed that the top position would go to Starc. During the auction in Dubai, after two and a half hours, the bidding for player Number 28 began, who was Starc.

Starc and those watching the auction were in for a surprise. The bidding kicked off between Akash Ambani from Mumbai Indians and Kiran Gandhe from Delhi Capitals. However, Gandhe withdrew from the auction at the INR 9.4 crore mark. That's when Kolkata Knight Riders joined the bidding at INR 9.8 crore. They were predicted to bid for Starc since they had acquired him for INR 9.4 crore the previous year, but Starc had to opt out due to his injury.

Once Mumbai withdrew from the bidding, Gujarat Titans found themselves in a head-to-head competition with Knight Riders for the acquisition of Cummins. Tension filled the auction room as both teams aggressively increased their bids to match Cummins' asking price. The atmosphere became electrifying when Starc's bid exceeded that of Cummins'. Finally, after a bidding battle that lasted approximately 17 minutes, the Knight Riders secured Starc at a price of INR 24.75 crore, making him the most valuable player of the auction and overtaking Cummins' position in less than two hours.

Starc and his wife Alyssa Healy were both amazed by the news coming out of Mumbai, where Healy is currently participating in the Australian women's tour of India. The tour begins with a single Test match this week. During a conversation with Star Sports, Starc revealed that he was quite curious about his performance and didn't anticipate making history.

Starc chuckled as he tried to put into words his reaction to Knight Riders' winning bid. He admitted that he couldn't quite describe how he felt about it all. At the time of the bid, his partner Alyssa was with the Australian team, and she received updates on the numbers before he did. But despite being slightly behind, Starc experienced a mix of shock and excitement as the bidding unfolded. He never imagined that he would end up with KKR, and he was thrilled to be joining the team.

Starc participated in two IPL seasons, representing Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2014 and 2015, after being purchased for INR 5 crore. He then took a break from IPL to ease his workload for a few years before coming back for the 2018 season. Kolkata Knight Riders showed great confidence in the player's potential to be a game-changer by making a substantial investment in him. Starc's skillset, including his pace of 140-150 kph and ability to swing the ball conventionally and reverse, made him a threat to any batter. Additionally, his toe-crushing yorkers and slower deliveries added to his versatility, and his left-arm angle posed a unique challenge to opponents. Moreover, he could add depth to the team's batting lineup with his lower-order hitting.

Regrettably, Starc sustained an injury to his tibia that prevented him from participating in the 2018 season. Nevertheless, six seasons have passed, and Starc is now delighted to wear Knight Riders' uniform. "To begin with, it's thrilling to be back in the game," he stated. "Furthermore, it comes as quite a jolt and a pleasant surprise, I would say."

The Knight Riders entered the auction with a budget of 32.7 crore and the most positions to fill, including four players from overseas. They quickly started bidding for allrounder Rovman Powell from West Indies, but he was ultimately picked by the Rajasthan Royals. The Knight Riders were able to secure 10 new players by the end of the auction.

It's unbelievable that apart from Starc, the remaining nine people were employed at their original price. When Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore got Starc, he mentioned that the purse can be divided in various ways.

How can you comprehend a team spending a large sum of money, INR 24.75 crore, which is 75.69% of their auction funds, on just one player? Starc found it amusing. He realizes the added pressure and expectations that come along with such a high price tag once the season commences. Nonetheless, he possesses qualities that not everyone has, such as extensive experience and the experience of winning World Cups in high-stress situations. "I am now 33 years old, therefore, I have encountered a lot of good and bad moments and pressures of certain games," he stated. "I believe that I can deal with it well, but it is always a part of the job when large numbers are added to the excitement and anticipation of the upcoming season."

I haven't played in the IPL since 2014 and 2015, but I have played a lot of cricket since then. Most of it has been with the Australian team in various formats. I have gained valuable experience while playing in India during World Cup campaigns. This experience includes leadership skills and knowledge of playing white-ball cricket. I hope to bring this experience to my team KKR and contribute to their success. Additionally, I am confident in my ability to bowl at different stages of the game, which has been a consistent skill of mine.

Even though Starc didn't play in the IPL, he didn't feel worried. He had made a plan and his main focus was to do well for Australia. He played an important part in the remarkable year of 2023, when Australia triumphed in the World Test Championship final, kept the Ashes, and defeated a strong India team in the World Cup final, with more than 90,000 fans watching in Ahmedabad.

Starc is now convinced that he's prepared for the IPL. "I've made international cricket my top priority for a while and have had a little experience with the IPL and Big Bash in Australia," he stated. "I've always been firm in my desire to play my finest cricket for Australia and make myself available for them whenever possible. But, the IPL is tempting, and it's thrilling to participate in such an incredible competition with big names, players, and stages. It's tough to resist. There's a chance to play everything. You just need to be aware and dedicated enough to do it all."

The Eden Gardens brings back pleasant memories for Starc. He accomplished a three-for on November 16 and persevered with Cummins during a stressful pursuit of South Africa's 213 runs in the semi-finals of the World Cup. "I'm excited to play on home turf and feel the energy of the local fans [at Eden Gardens]," he expressed. "It's an opportunity for me to wear new colors and encounter a new obstacle."

What is the forecast for Starc according to his enthusiastic Knight Riders fanbase? "It is anticipated that Starc will continue to deliver the same level of success that he has achieved in the past - exhibiting the art of swinging the new ball, reversing the old one, and striving to knock down those wickets."

Regarding today, Starc is excited to meet up with Cummins before practice on Wednesday as they prepare to join the rest of the Australian team in Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan. "The discussion among the bowling group tomorrow at the gym could be quite fascinating," he chuckled.

Though Healy and he will be celebrating a "Christmas of cricket" on different continents throughout the rest of 2023, Starc is content to share the excitement he and Cummins felt today with the rest of the Australian team. "Everyone in the team is going crazy about it," he revealed. "They're all saying it's our responsibility to treat them, so we'll just keep doing our thing and prepare for the upcoming Test match. But a few of our fellow Aussie players may be looking forward to us indulging them."

At ESPNcricinfo, Nagraj Gollapudi holds the position of news editor.