For several years, Mitchell Starc, Australia's star fast bowler, has been conspicuously absent from the Indian Premier League (IPL). Starc has primarily focused on the game's longest format, becoming a formidable force in both red and white-ball cricket. His contributions have been instrumental in Australia's successes, including winning the 2015 World Cup, the 2021 T20 World Cup, and multiple Ashes series. However, it appears that Starc is now considering a comeback to the IPL next year , ending his hiatus from the tournament.
“Look, it’s been eight years. I’m definitely going back next year.” Starc announced during a recent Willow Talk Cricket Podcast. “Among other things, it’s a great lead-up to the T20 World Cup. So, it’s a good opportunity to see if anyone’s interested in the IPL, which then leads into the T20 World Cup. And it’s somewhat of a quiet winter next year, in comparison to this winter, so I think it’s a perfect opportunity to put my name in.”
Should it happen, the upcoming season promises to be better even for sports betting enthusiasts, with several IPL franchises vying to secure the services of the superstar. In this article, we'll look into three IPL teams that may be engulfed in the bidding war to acquire the left-arm pacer if he becomes part of the IPL 2024 auction.
Chennai Super Kings
Under the leadership of MS Dhoni, the Chennai Super Kings clinched their fifth IPL title by defeating the Gujarat Titans in 2023. Looking ahead to the next season, Dhoni will lead the team again, and he and the franchise will be among the leading Betway favourites to defend their title. They are likely to target Mitchell Starc to bolster their squad, as the left-arm fast bowler could fill the void in their bowling attack. Ever since the retirement of Dwayne Bravo, CSK has been in search of an overseas bowler capable of making an impact in both the powerplay and death overs, a role that Starc has excelled in for many years.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Starc had a stint with the Royal Challengers Bangalore for two consecutive seasons, where he became Virat Kohli's formidable weapon of choice. Remarkably, despite the challenging conditions at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, known to be a bowler's nightmare, Starc managed to maintain an impressive economy rate of just 7.17 in 27 IPL matches while playing for RCB at that venue. The Bangalore franchise will likely try to reunite with their former star to strengthen their bowling lineup. If this reunion materializes, the trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Mohammed Siraj could potentially form a lethal combination for the team.
Mumbai Indians
In 2022, the Mumbai Indians faced some massive setbacks but rebounded admirably in 2023, finishing in third place. However, it's been three seasons since MI last clinched the IPL title, and one of the primary reasons for their consistent challenges has been their bowling attack. Jofra Archer's unavailability in 2022 and Jasprit Bumrah's absence in 2023 added to their woes, and there are still uncertainties surrounding Archer's participation.
In such a scenario, Mumbai Indians could strongly consider pursuing Mitchell Starc. The formidable pacer could be the missing piece in Mumbai's puzzle, much like what Trent Boult had previously offered. Teaming up with Bumrah, the left-arm speedster has the potential to be a nightmarish duo for opposition batters. Whatever happens, you can expect an even more competitive season, and Betway will have all the action available for betting on the mobile app or the web.
