IPL 2024 Final: Mitchell Starc Delivered Ball of The Season To Clean Bowl Abhishek Sharma?

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Chennai, May 26: In a thrilling start to the IPL 2024 Final, Mitchell Starc delivered a sensational first over, clean bowling Abhishek Sharma with a stunning delivery at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday (May 26).

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer, known for his hefty price tag this season, proved his worth by striking early against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in both the knockout games. Also read: Most Runs in IPL 2024 | Most Wickets | IPL 2024 Points Table

Starc, who became the most expensive player in IPL history when KKR secured him for a record-breaking Rs 24.75 Crore, has been under intense scrutiny throughout the tournament.

Despite a rocky start to his campaign, Starc turned his fortunes around with a match-winning performance in Qualifier 1 against the same opponent, where he claimed figures of 3/34.

In the final, Starc wasted no time making an impact. On the fifth ball of the first innings, SRH skipper Pat Cummins' decision to bat first seemed shaky as Starc produced a delivery that pitched on the leg-stump line, nipped away sharply, and crashed into the off-stump, leaving Abhishek Sharma and the SRH fans stunned at the venue.

IPL 2024 Final Toss: Captains Comments

Ahead of the high-stakes match, SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat. "We will bat first. Looks like a good wicket, played on a different wicket the other night. There was no dew on the other night's game, we have a style which doesn't work always, but when it does, it's very damaging. I want to crack with the bat first. We have done well defending scores. Pretty much the same, Shahbaz comes in for Samad," Cummins said.

KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer revealed that his team preferred to bowl first had they won the toss. "We would have bowled, we'll get a fair idea about how the pitch will play. It's a red soil and we played our last game on a similar surface. We need to stay with the present, stick to the basics and execute all our plans. Every individual is taking responsibility, this is a big game, we've plenty of people who're playing in a final for the first time, nervous, but this is also a good chance. We're going with the same team," Iyer remarked.

Mitchell Starc's Impact This Season

Starc's early wicket was pivotal in setting the tone for KKR. His ability to deliver under pressure was evident as he executed a near-perfect delivery, exploiting the conditions and demonstrating why he commands such a high value. This early breakthrough not only boosted KKR's morale but also put SRH on the back foot right from the start.