Questions had been swirling around Mitchell Starc’s performance in the IPL, with fans criticizing his inconsistency. However, one thing remained certain: Gautam Gambhir’s unwavering trust in his players. This proved crucial in a dramatic win for Kolkata Knight Riders against Mumbai.
Despite Starc’s struggles earlier in the tournament, his previous good showing against Lucknow seemed a distant memory. Yet, big players rise in big moments, and that’s exactly what Starc did. He demolished Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium on Friday.
With Mumbai needing a seemingly manageable 169 runs for victory, the match appeared to be heading their way. However, a strange feeling emerged – a lack of expectation for Starc.
But for the first time in the tournament, he seemed to find rhythm, dismissing the dangerous Ishan Kishan with a searing yorker in his first over. This signaled Starc’s intent and potential impact on the match.
The tension escalated when Mumbai required only 46 runs with 4 overs remaining. Starc entered the fray in the crucial 17th over, conceding just 3 runs and effectively sealing the match for Kolkata. However, Tim David’s presence kept a flicker of hope alive for Mumbai.
In the 18th over, the responsibility again fell on Andre Russell, who had already bowled brilliantly. But with the match on the line, Kolkata entrusted their most experienced bowler, the two-time World Cup winner Starc, who has been a consistent performer across formats for the past decade. Despite his recent struggles, everyone knew his capabilities when on song.
Mumbai needed 32 runs in 12 balls. Starc conceded a six to David on the first ball, raising concerns about a KKR collapse. However, David was caught at covers by the very next delivery, a crucial catch by the Kolkata captain Shreyas Iyer.
The pressure mounted further as Starc dismissed Piyush Chawla with another superb delivery, leaving Mumbai’s hopes hanging by a thread.
With only one wicket remaining, all hope rested on Jasprit Bumrah who took a single and brought Gerlad Coetzee on strike. Starc then delivered a perfect yorker, leaving Coetzee rooted to the crease. This phenomenal bowling display sealed the match for Kolkata Knight Riders.
After the match, Iyer revealed that he had spoken to Starc about the importance of this specific game. The “best in the world” delivered precisely when it mattered most for KKR.
