In a dramatic turnaround, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) stars Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins silenced their critics by leading their respective teams to the IPL 2024 final. KKR signed Starc for an impressive INR 24.75 crore, making him the focal point of extensive discussions and initial criticism for a slow start. Similarly, SRH offered Cummins an IPL salary of INR 20.50 crore, a decision that also faced backlash given the higher salary compared to some top Indian stars.
Despite the scrutiny, both players demonstrated their exceptional skills throughout the tournament. Starc guided KKR to victory in Qualifier 1 and eventually to the championship, while Cummins led SRH to their first final in six years. Reflecting on the criticism and their journey to the final, Starc shared a humorous anecdote on the Willow Talk Cricket Podcast. While talking about his IPL salary, he said:
“Paddy and I both got paid a fair bit, played the first game, had a bit of a laugh about it. Nine weeks later, we’re playing each other in the final,” Starc remarked, highlighting the shift in perception from being overpaid to key finalists.
The IPL final saw KKR defeat SRH by eight wickets, concluding the match earlier than anticipated. However, the post-match presentation, which started only at midnight, dampened the celebratory mood. Starc expressed his frustration, saying,
“So game finished at 10pm, presentation hasn’t even started by midnight. Killed the vibe already,”
“Young young Anki who’s our number three, he’s like they see the winner’s cheques come over team get 20 crore for winning the final he goes it’s not even what you got paid’” Starc said.
Adding a touch of humor, young player Angkrish Raghuvanshi joked about Starc’s IPL salary, noting that the winner’s cheque of 20 crore was less than Starc’s IPL earnings. Despite the initial financial scrutiny, both Starc and Cummins proved their immense value, playing crucial roles in their teams’ success.
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West Indies fail to qualify for WCL 2024 final, Pakistan win semi-final 1
