IPL Auction 2025: Kiran Gandhi pulls off bidding masterclass, quietly acquires Mitchell Starc for 11.75 crores

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Delhi Capitals, especially DC owner Kiran Gandhi was back to his antics yet again, this time in the IPL 2024 Mega Auction. As has been customary over the past auctions, Delhi Capitals went in hard over some of the players, constantly inflating the price, before quietly picking up Mitchell Starc for a modest price of 11.75 crores.

Delhi Capitals went in hard for ace pacer Arshdeep Singh, the first name to be pulled up in the auction. He went on to a bidding war with CSK from the very beginning. Kiran Gandhi continued to inflate the price with SRH finally getting hammer down on 15.75 crores. PBKS opted for RTM and eventually matched SRH’s asking price of 18 crores, making Arshdeep Singh the highest-priced Indian pacer in the league.

Up next, Delhi Capitals and Kiran Gandhi pulled off a similar trick on Shreyas Iyer. The bidding war continued for the former KKR captain. Delhi and Punjab Kings continued the war till Shreyas Iyer crossed 26.75 crore. In a swift move, Delhi immediately pulled off from the bidding as PBKS got their prized man.

Mitchell Starc has made headlines by joining Delhi Capitals (DC) for ₹11.75 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah on November 24, 2024. This acquisition marks a significant moment for DC, as they look to enhance their bowling attack with one of the world's premier fast bowlers.

It was expected that Mitchell Starc wouldn’t be going for huge bucks, as he did last time. Last season he was the highest-priced player in IPL history with a wage of 24.75 crores. This time DC faced little competition as Royal Challengers Bengaluru pulled out early, and they got the ace speedster for a cut-price of 11.75 crores, showcasing a brilliant move from the Capitals.

Starc's previous stint with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) saw him fetching a staggering ₹24.75 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history at that time. However, his return to the auction this year came at a much lower price due to his limited availability in recent seasons caused by injuries and national commitments.

Starc's performance in the IPL has been impressive, with 51 wickets from 41 matches at an average of 22.29. His ability to perform in crucial moments was evident when he was named Player of the Match in both the Qualifier and final last season for KKR. Despite his success, Starc opted out of several IPL seasons to manage his workload, which likely influenced his lower price this year.