Mitchell Learns To Rock

The 'Starc reality' of high-stakes final

Mitchell Starc is unlikely to have seen the reel which went viral on Instagram a month ago when he was being clobbered for sixes across stadiums by unheralded Indian batters.

In that reel, Starc's voice was replaced by a coarse Haryanvi dubbed version where he says 'maaje hi maaje' (only enjoyment, no work), making fun of his whopping IPL auction price of Rs 24.75 crore.

But the maker of that reel forgot that Starc enjoyed a big pay day at the auctions because he is a man for big days, big games.

Returning to IPL fold after eight years, the left-arm pacer had only seven wickets in his first nine games before the Wankhede match against Mumbai Indians gave a glimpse of the trailer before he unleashed a full film in two parts.

Two matches in the playoffs – a virtual semi-final and then the final – and Starc was ready to be KKR's last action hero.

Brendon McCullum learnt it the hard way during an afternoon at a packed MCG in the 2015 World Cup final. Shubman Gill and KL Rahul were left stone-faced at the Narendra Modi Stadium during the 2023 ODI summit clash.

Starc's biggest fans have often wondered what happens to him on an average cricketing day when he wouldn't know what's happening with him. And then comes those big days when there is pressure, and suddenly, the batters don't know what exactly hit them.

It could be a vicious indipping yorker, a late away swing or just a pushed-up delivery with scrambled seam, Starc's bouquet has it all.

The IPL's breakout star Abhishek Sharma learnt what he can expect at the international level -- the stuff of pure magic and that look of awe.

In big tournaments like the World Cup or IPL, you don't need to get 30 wickets but deliver on two or three important days. KKR decided that the market price of Starc is Rs 24.75 crore and the man from New South Wales showed that when it comes to big occasions, he is priceless.