Image Source: X – KKRiders
[Saba Sports News] Mitchell Starc, the IPL’s priciest player ever, linked up with Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, March 17. Arriving in Kolkata at night, he headed straight to the team hotel, greeted warmly by fans and team officials.
He’s expected to practice on March 18 and possibly play in KKR’s second warm-up match before their first game against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens on March 23. KKR has struggled with their death bowling, heavily depending on Andre Russell. To bolster their attack, especially at the death, they’ve invested INR 24.75 crore in Starc, despite a no-show in 2018 post-auction, which had frustrated KKR. Now, past issues resolved, they aim for a strong season.
In a recent practice match on March 18, key players shone, with Phil Salt and Nitish Rana hitting half-centuries, and Rinku Singh along with Andre Russell making powerful contributions. Their batting form looks promising for the upcoming season. Although Varun Chakravarthy claimed two wickets, he was expensive. All players, except Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who’s finishing a T20I series in the UAE, have joined the camp. Gurbaz is expected to link up with KKR after his series concludes on March 18.