Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc has opened up about his unexpected release from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the IPL 2025 auctionexpressing disappointment over the lack of communication from the franchise. Starc, who was acquired for a record ₹24.75 crores during the IPL 2024 auction, found himself among several notable players released by KKR as they made significant changes to their squad.

Mitchell Starc’s reaction to KKR release

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Starc revealed that he had not heard from KKR since his release, stating, “I still haven’t heard from them. It is what it is, that’s franchise cricket, so all barring the Hyderabad boys (Pat Cummins and Travis Head) will be in the auction.” His comments reflect a sense of frustration about the abrupt end to his time with KKR, particularly given his contributions during the season. Despite an overall average performance, Starc played a pivotal role in KKR’s championship victory, earning a Player of the Match award with impressive figures of 2/14 in one of the matches.

KKR’s strategic changes

KKR’s decision to release Starc came as part of a broader strategy that also saw them part ways with their IPL-winning skipper Shreyas Iyer. The franchise has retained key players such as Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell ahead of the upcoming auction. The release of several capped players indicates KKR’s intent to reshape their squad for better performance in the next season.

As Starc prepares for the IPL 2025 auction, he remains optimistic about finding a new team. He noted that most players, excluding those from Sunrisers Hyderabad like Pat Cummins and Travis Headwill be available for bidding. With his extensive experience and proven track record in both international and franchise cricket, Starc is likely to attract significant interest from other teams looking to bolster their bowling attack.