Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir has defended Mitchell Starc’s underwhelming performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), emphasizing the team’s success over individual brilliance. Despite being acquired for a hefty ₹24.75 crore, the Australian left-arm pacer has managed only two wickets at an average of 77 and an economy rate of 11 runs per over in four matches.
Gambhir, however, remains unfazed by Starc’s struggles, stating, “It doesn’t matter, T20 cricket is all about bowlers getting smashed. We’ve got three wins out of four.” He believes that Starc’s impact will be felt in the tournament’s later stages.
“Four games doesn’t make him a bad bowler. And four good games doesn’t make him a brilliant bowler either. So I know that what impact he can create and what impact he will create in the competition,” Gambhir said.
Gambhir’s comments come ahead of KKR’s match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), a team he mentored for the past two seasons. Despite KKR’s inability to defeat LSG in three previous encounters, Gambhir insists that it’s a new start.
“It’s a new day, new start. What difference does it make that what has happened in the last two years? It really makes no difference. We start from scratch,” he said.
Gambhir also addressed criticism of KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit’s “militant style” of functioning. “My working relationship with him has been really, really good and hopefully it continues that way,” he said.
