Shreyas Iyer reveals why KKR dropped Mitchell Starc, IPL's most expensive player, for PBKS game

FORMER Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday (26) took the field without Mitchell Starc in their ranks as they took on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a crucial game at their home ground Eden Gardens.

The development surprised many since Starc, 34, is the most expensive player of the tournament with a price tag of Rs 24.75 crore (£2.3 million). However, the left-arm Australian pacer has not been impressive in the seven matches that he has played so far, conceding 287 runs in 150 balls at an average of over 47. He has picked only six wickets at an economy rate of 11.48.

His overall IPL career has seen an average of 27.45 and economy rate of 8.64. In T20s, his average is even better at 20.69 and average of 7.68.

Kolkata fans were not impressed about the team's previous game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in which Starc was hit for two consecutive sixes by lower-order batter Karn Sharma and Kolkata just managed to win the game by a run, thanks to a smart return catch that the bowler took to dismiss Sharma.

Read: Bengaluru beat Hyderabad to fight another day in IPL 2024

Is his dismal show with the ball behind the decision to drop him for the Punjab clash?

KKR captain Shreyas Iyer said it was not the reason for dropping the bowler who he said endured a cut on his finger.

“Starcy got a cut on his finger in the last game, Dushmantha Chameera replaces him,” Iyer said during the toss.

Read: Bengaluru lose 6 on the trot as Kolkata snatch 1-run win

It was Sri Lankan Dushmantha Chameera's first game in this IPL.

Starc has made a return to the IPL this year after 2015. The T20 World Cup will follow the tournament which makes it all the more important for Starc to hit form and boost his country's chances in the marquee tournament.

It will be interesting to see when Starc returns to KKR's playing XI as the tournament reaches an interesting phase.