Mitchell Starc: Which teams can target Australia pacer at IPL 2025 mega auction?

New Delhi: Australian pacer Mitchell Starc saw Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) break the bank for him in the IPL 2024 mini auction last year to make him the most expensive player of all time in IPL history. KKR splurged a whopping Rs 24.75 crore to buy Starc at the mini-auction last year as the left-arm pacer beat his Aussie teammate Pat Cummins to emerge as the costliest buy of all time in the competition’s history.

Starc didn’t have the best of starts with KKR in IPL 2024 but played a key role in the second half of the season to help his team reach the final and win their third title. The Australian pacer finished the season with 17 wickets from 14 matches at an economy of 10.61 with the best figures of 4/33 which came against Mumbai Indians.

The left-arm pacer remains one of the best fast bowlers in the world across formats despite having seen his prowess with the ball go down a bit in the last couple of years. Several teams will be targeting Strac at the IPL 2025 mega auction to bolster their pace attack ahead of the new season. While the Australian pacer might not be able to breach the 24 crore mark this time around, he might still earn big bucks at the auction.

Teams that can target Mitchell Starc at IPL 2025 mega auction:

1) Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titans (GT) are likely to be one of the teams who might go all out for Mitchell Starc at the IPL 2025 mega auction. GT were involved in a bidding war till the end with KKR for the Australian left-arm pacer in the mini-auction last year and gave up after the bidding crossed the Rs 24.50 crore mark. They might come back for Starc once again this year.

Gujarat Titans have let go of the likes of Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma and need to rebuild their pace attack. They might want to build their attack around Starc, who offers both experience and expertise with the new ball and in the death. GT will head into the auction with a purse of Rs 69 crore and might have enough to secure Starc’s services.

2) Punjab Kings

With the biggest purse in the IPL 2025 mega auction, Punjab Kings are well-placed to go after any big name. They will be eager to get a pacer like Mitchell Starc, who is arguably one of the best in the world and will transform their team. With Ricky Ponting at the helm, several Aussie players are expected to be heading to PBKS in the upcoming auction and Sarc could be one of them.

If they decide to get him, Punjab Kings will be in a strong position to fend off any competition for the Australian pacer and rope him in at the mega auction on Sunday.

3) Delhi Capitals

Having released Anrich Nortje, Delhi Capitals will be eyeing a replacement for the South African pacer and will have Mitchell Starc on their wishlist. DC will be heading into the auction with a decent purse of Rs 73 crore and can go after their desired targets. They might look to rope in the Australian pacer and build their pace attack around him.

IPL 2025 mega auction – Full coverage

 Australian pacer Mitchell Starc will be one of the players to watch out for at the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. Here is a look at franchises who can go after Starc at the mega auction.  Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today