KKR Release Starc Ahead of IPL 2019 Auction

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc is unlikely to feature in the Indian Premier League 2019 edition as his franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released him during the ongoing first trading window before the IPL Auction. KKR picked him in the IPL 2018 Auction but he didn’t feature in a single game during that season owing to the leg injury he sustained in South Africa.

With KKR letting him go, Starc will miss out IPL 2019 unless he nominates himself for the IPL 2019 auction which is scheduled on 16th December in Goa. However, in Starc’s words it is understood he would like to go into the busy schedule of next year taking a long break. Australia will play The Ashes in England just after the completion of ODI World Cup next year.

“I got a text message two days ago from the owners of Kolkata [Kolkata Knight Riders] saying I’ve been released from my contract,” Starc told reporters in Sydney. “At the moment I’ll be home in April [2019],” said Mitchell Starc.

“I obviously didn’t go last year with my tibia injury and it was a great opportunity to freshen the body up, let everything heal by itself. I guess barring a little niggle in my hammy I’ve felt pretty good with my body and my strength and the rest of it. That little period of time has really paid off for the body. If I don’t play the IPL next year it’s a good opportunity to freshen up for a massive six months of cricket in the UK,” Starc added.

Here is the complete list of players that Kolkata Knight Riders hold at the moment. They have removed Mitch Starc from the list but the former Aussie pacer Mitchell Johnson who recently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket including T20 tournaments across the globe is still showing up on this page!

Should Starc feature in IPL 2019 or should he take rest and prepare for the World Cup and Ashes series? Let us know your thoughts using the comments section below. Also, keep reading ReadScoops.com for similar updates on the upcoming Indian Premier League 2019.

Read more: