• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Had A Bit Of Starc Opens Up On His And Cummins Hefty Ipl Salary And Criticism

'Had A Bit Of...': Starc Opens Up On His And Cummins Hefty IPL Salary And Criticism

Mitchell Starc opens up [X.com]Mitchell Starc opens up [X.com]

Mitchell Starc, the most expensive cricketer in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, has shed light on his and Pat Cummins’ hefty salaries and the subsequent criticism they faced. Starc was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a record INR 24.75 crore, making him the highest-paid player in IPL history. 

Pat Cummins, on the other hand, was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for INR 20.50 crore, which also raised eyebrows as his salary surpassed those of many top Indian stars.

Starc's performance in the first half of the tournament was underwhelming, drawing significant criticism. However, the Australian pacer remained unfazed by the backlash. 

In a candid discussion on the Willow Talk Cricket Podcast, Starc revealed that he and Pat Cummins found humor in the situation despite the scrutiny. Reflecting on their journey, Starc humorously noted how they transitioned from being labeled as overpriced players to finalists.

"(I) Did laugh. So first game of the IPL, we played Hyderabad. So Paddy and I both got paid a fair bit, played first game, had a bit of a laugh about it. Just so happens we play each other nine weeks later in the final. And all of a sudden it's gone from, oh, they've paid overs for these two. These two are now playing a final. Funny that," Starc said.

Despite the early criticism, Starc demonstrated his value by leading KKR to victory in Qualifier 1 and the final. Similarly, Cummins’ leadership and performance were pivotal in taking Hyderabad to the summit clash for the first time in six years. 

In all likeliness, the Australian stars will be seen together in action against Scotland for the 3-T20I series starting 4 September.