Mitchell Starc has emerged as the most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the recent IPL 2024 auction, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) set a record by bidding ₹24.75 crore for the Australian left-arm pacer. Starc, initially listed with a base price of ₹2 crore, saw a competitive auction battle between KKR and the Gujarat Titans, with KKR emerging victorious in the final bid. Starc’s last IPL stint was with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2015.

The IPL 2024 mini-auction witnessed Mitchell Starc surpassing Pat Cummins’ record within minutes. Previously, Cummins was acquired by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹20.50 crore. Apart from Sunrisers, Royal Challengers Bangalore team bid till the end for Pat Cummins but could not go beyond 20.25 crore rupees. Shortly after, Mitchell Starc entered the auction, with initial interest from Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians. A fierce bidding war unfolded between Gujarat Titans and KKR, ultimately resulting in Starc joining the KKR camp.

The IPL 2024 auction, taking place in Dubai, showcased significant deals in its fourth round. Royal Challengers Bangalore secured Alzarri Joseph for ₹11.50 crore, Punjab acquired Harshal Patel for ₹11.75 crore, and Chennai Super Kings invested ₹14 crore in Darrell Mitchell. Rajasthan Royals added Rovman Powell to their squad for ₹7.40 crore, while Delhi Capitals acquired Harry Brook for ₹4 crore. In the final move of the first auction set, Sunrisers Hyderabad acquired Travis Head for ₹6.80 crore. Notably, Karun Nair, Manish Pandey, Steve Smith, and Rilee Rossouw from South Africa remained unsold in the initial auction phase.