Among the players expected to attract significant attention is Australia's fast bowler, Mitchell Starc. Mitchell Starc's IPL Journey In the 2024 auctions, Mitchell Starc made history by becoming the most expensive player ever in the IPL when Kolkata Knight Riders secured him for INR 24.75 crore. Despite his impressive performance, he was not retained for the 2025 season and will re-enter the auction pool. Starc played a pivotal role in Kolkata Knight Riders' title-winning campaign in 2024, taking 17 wickets. Although the Aussie didn't have the best of starts with KKR, he played a crucial part in the playoffs. But as the 34-year-old leaps into the auction pool, there will be many suitors for him at the event. IPL 2024: Four teams who can target Mitchell Starc Punjab Kings Punjab Kings are still chasing their first IPL title and might target Starc in the upcoming auction. With only two players retained- Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh, the franchise has the largest budget of INR 110.5 crore among all teams. Adding a player of Starc's calibre could significantly boost their chances of success. Given Starc's high price tag from previous auctions, Punjab Kings may be willing to invest heavily to secure his services. Also, the Aussie connection with Ricky Ponting at the helm can be an enticing factor for them. Starc would also like to play under Ponting and guide PBKS towards their first IPL title. Royal Challengers Bengaluru A return to Royal Challengers Bengaluru could be on the cards for Mitchell Starc. The team has faced challenges in their bowling department recently, making Starc an attractive option. RCB has retained Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal ahead of the auction, leaving them with INR 83 crore to spend. Starc can be their overseas pace spearhead and his past venture with the Bengaluru outfit makes him a perfect choice for the franchise. Rajasthan Royals After retaining six players, Rajasthan Royals have managed to keep the majority of their Indian core, but they lack a premium pacer in the team. Mitchell Starc can be the perfect candidate to fill in the gap for the Royals. With Sandeep Sharma, Starc can become Rajasthan's dream bowling pair. Also, the Jaipur pitch provides bounce and assistance to fast bowlers, which the Australian would definitely enjoy. Gujarat Titans Gujarat Titans will have an eye on Mitchell Starc in the auction. The Titans went for the Australian in the mini auction till the Rs 24.5 crore mark but eventually lost to KKR. In the mega auction, they are tipped to join the bidding for him again, especially after not retaining any of their pacers.