Mitchell learns to rock: The 'Starc reality' of high-stakes final

NEW DELHI: Mitchell Starc likely missed the viral Instagram reel a month ago, where unheralded Indian batters were shown smashing him for sixes. In the video, his voice was humorously dubbed in Haryanvi, saying "maaje hi maaje" (only enjoyment, no work), poking fun at his hefty IPL auction price of Rs 24.75 crore.

However, the reel's creator overlooked that Starc's substantial auction payday was justified—he's a player for big occasions.

Returning to the IPL after eight years, Starc had only seven wickets in his first nine games. But a match at Wankhede against the Mumbai Indians hinted at his potential, which he fully unleashed during the play-offs.

In two critical matches—the virtual semi-final and the final—Starc demonstrated why he is KKR's ultimate action hero. This was reminiscent of when Brendon McCullum faced him in the 2015 World Cup final at the MCG, or when Shubman Gill and KL Rahul were left bewildered during the 2023 ODI summit clash at Narendra Modi Stadium.

Starc's biggest fans often wonder why he sometimes appears inconsistent on average days. Yet, when the pressure mounts, he transforms, leaving batters stunned. Whether it's a vicious in-dipping yorker, a late away swinger, or a cleverly disguised scrambled seam delivery, Starc's arsenal is always ready for the big moments.

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.

Over the years, Starc has avoided the leagues across the world and especially the IPL as a Test cricket devotee. For him there is no greater sight than seeing the red kookaburra tail into a batter and that bewildered look on their face.

"There's nothing I love more in cricket than to sit back with my teammates at the end of a Test win and reflect on the success we've had that week. To be able to pull on the baggy green with a lot of my close mates, guys I've grown up in the game with," he had told British newspaper Guardian before the start of Ashes last year.

Recently, KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir in a podcast with Ravichandran Ashwin said that he is a traditionalist in terms of how he looks at victories and defeats.

If one revisits that Starc interview, the old world charm seeps out of every pore of his existence.

"I mean, franchise cricket is great but you can be bought or sold or traded in 12 months, whereas this is an opportunity that I've been fortunate enough to have over 10 years now," he had told the British paper.

It could seem like a paradox that Starc had said back then that the traditionalist in him doesn't want football-styled T20 leagues to usurp the space created for Test cricket.

"The traditionalist in me still hopes there is a generation of boys and girls who want to represent their country in Test cricket. But the easy money is in franchise cricket, it's the fast track to notoriety."

Possibly when the last paddle went up for Rs 24.75 crore, even Starc didn't know what to expect.

The trolls perhaps knew that he could be a potential meme material. He did give them a chance, but they should have always known that when the man in question is Mitchell Starc, it is always, 'Picture Abhi Bhi Baki Hai Mere Dost'.

(With PTI inputs)