Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has expressed his excitement about returning to the Indian Premier League (IPL) after a long absence. Starc, who last played in the IPL in 2015, will be sporting the gold and purple of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) this season.

Mitchell Starc eager to represent KKR in IPL 2024

This marks a significant comeback for the left-arm pacer, who previously had a brief stint with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2014 and 2015, picking up 34 wickets in 27 matches.

“It’s been 8 years, I think,” Starc told cricket.com.au. “Back to KKR where I was supposed to be in 2018. So I’ll be back there for the chance to pull on the gold and purple.”

His stint with KKR in 2018 never materialized, but this time around, Starc seems eager to embrace the challenge. He acknowledges the significant time gap and the new faces he’ll encounter on the team.

“Obviously, a new group of players. A bunch of guys I certainly haven’t met or been able to work with before,” he said.

However, the prospect of sharing the field with familiar foes from the international circuit fills him with enthusiasm.

“A couple of guys that I’ve, international guys that I’ve played against and come across. Yeah, it’s gonna be exciting. It’s definitely a new challenge,” Starc added.

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“It’s always a bit of a circus when it is the best T20 league in the world”: Starc

The IPL’s high-octane atmosphere and its status as the “best T20 league in the world” were additional motivators for Starc’s return. The intense bidding war at the 2024 IPL auction that saw him become the league’s most expensive player with a record-breaking INR 24.5 crore contract is a testament to his value.

Starc’s return promises to bolster KKR’s bowling attack and provide a thrilling experience for fans as he takes the field alongside some of the biggest names in cricket.

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