IPL 2025: "Haven't heard.." Mitchell Starc breaks silence after getting released by KKR

KKR signed Mitchell Starc in the IPL 2024 auction for INR 24.75 crore.

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have released their star pacer Mitchell Starc ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction.

Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allowed each team to retain a maximum of six players for the next season. The defending champions maintained their core by holding onto Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh.

Even though Starc was the Man of the Match in Qualifier 1 and the final, both against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he has been let go of by the Knight Riders.

Starc was bought for a record-breaking price of INR 24.75 crore in the previous mini-auction. After a nine-year absence, Starc’s return to the IPL last season came with high expectations.

Despite struggling in initial games, Starc had a solid finish to the competition, ending with 17 wickets in 13 games. He was instrumental for the franchise in the playoffs, recording match-winning figures of 3/34 in Qualifier 1 and 2/14 in the final.

Starc breaks silence over being released by KKR

Reacting to his release, Mitchell Starc expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of communication from the franchise, revealing that he hadn’t been informed about the decision.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Starc said, “I still haven’t heard from them. It is what it is, that’s franchise cricket, so all barring the Hyderabad boys (Pat Cummins and Travis Head) will be in the auction.“

Starc is among the several high-profile players who have been released by their respective franchises before the IPL 2025 mega auction. While his participation in next year’s tournament is not confirmed yet, the left-arm pacer will certainly trigger a bidding war again if he decides to enter his name in the mega auction.

The lanky Aussie speedster is currently participating in the ODI series against Pakistan at home, after which he will be in action in the five-match home test series against India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

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