Mitchell Starc vs Anrich Nortje - The Redemption Battle Of The 'Flopsters'

Mitchell Starc and Anrich Nortje have failed to live upto the expectations in IPL 2024 [iplt20.com]Mitchell Starc and Anrich Nortje have failed to live upto the expectations in IPL 2024 [iplt20.com]

The Delhi Capitals are all set to take on the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 16th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024). The battle between these two teams has always been close, and with the players on either side for this game, the same could be expected. 

While there will be some big names in this battle, there will be a war between Mitchell Starc and Anrich Nortje. These stars have not been at their best in the tournament so far. So, this game will allow the superstars to redeem themselves and prove impactful for their teams. Let us try to predict who could be the more successful player in this game. 


Starc vs Nortje - Cost to franchise

KKR broke the bank and spent INR 24.75 Cr to secure the services of Mitchell Starc. If they give him a go for all those games, then he will cost INR 1.76 Cr to the franchise for each match.

Anrich Nortje is getting INR 6.5 Cr for this season. Since he missed the first game, Nortje's cost per match to Delhi is INR 50 Lakhs. 

So, the pressure will be more on Mitchell Starc to justify his price tag. 


Starc vs Nortje - Who could be more effective on the venue?

While Mitchell Starc has been actively involved in cricket, Nortje is making a comeback after a prolonged absence due to fitness issues. This disparity in their preparation could potentially give Starc a significant edge in the game.


Both Starc and Nortje have played games at the venue. While Nortje has played two T20 matches, Starc has played a couple of ODI matches. In the two games, Nortje conceded 66 runs from 6 overs without picking up a wicket. 

While Starc did not have a great outing in the first ODI, he picked up a fifer in the last ODI match that he played here. The numbers at the venue are certainly better for Starc, and hence, he could be the one redeeming himself here. 


Starc's left-arm pace could prove to be a formidable challenge for the right-handed batters in the DC top order. Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh, and Tristan Stubbs could find themselves in trouble against the pace and angle of the left-arm pacer, potentially swinging the game in Starc's favour. 

On the other hand, KKR will start with Phil Salt and Sunil Narine. Both these batters enjoy the ball coming onto the bat, precisely what Nortje will provide them with. However, at the fall of the opening pair, there will be batters like Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer, who generally struggle against pace. Therefore, if DC can separate the opening duo, then Nortje could be impactful, making quick work of the KKR middle order.