Mitchell Starc
Ricky Ponting explained Mitchell Starc’s poor start in IPL 2024 by saying the pressure of his high price tag and the challenging conditions at Eden Gardens made it difficult for him to perform at his best.

Mitchell Starc, the Australian fast bowler, faced scrutiny for his performance in the early matches of the IPL 2024 season. Despite his crucial roles in Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) Qualifier 1 and final victories, leading them to their third IPL trophy, Starc’s initial matches were marked by expensive overs and a lack of wickets.

Starc, who was the most expensive player in the IPL auction at INR 24.75 crore, struggled in his first outings against the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Royal Challengers Bangalore, conceding 100 runs without taking a wicket in his first eight overs.

Former Australian captain and coach of the Delhi Capitals, Ricky Ponting, commented on Starc’s slow start. He suggested that the high expectations and pressure to justify his price tag might have affected Starc’s performance. Ponting also mentioned the challenging conditions at KKR’s home ground, Eden Gardens, noting that the ground’s size and the hard outfield made it difficult for bowlers.

“The expectation that comes with the price tag sometimes makes players push a little bit harder and try to do more than they need to do. You know, conditions where Mitch was bowling at the Eden Gardens, the ball didn’t really swing much there this year, and the ground is like, like it’s a small ground and the outfield’s like concrete,” Ponting said to ICC.

READ ALSO | ‘There’s Been Jokes About The Money’: Mitchell Starc Silences Critics With Dominant Display In KKR’s IPL 2024 Win

Furthermore,  Ponting contrasted the conditions in India with those in the Caribbean. He noted that Indian grounds favor batters, with even fast bowlers’ pace not deterring the ball from reaching the boundary through inside edges. Ponting also suggested that the Caribbean, with its slower winds and less lively outfields, would be more suitable for Starc’s style of bowling.

“And when you’re bowling at Starc’s pace, inside edges that just make their way through the field end up going for four. It’s not the easiest place in the world to bowl fast, but, you know, if we go to the Caribbean where the wind’s a little bit slower and the ball’s not flying off the bat quite as hard, then Starc will have an impact,” he concluded.

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Last Updated on May 27, 2024

Senior Sports Copywriter