IPL Auction 2025: Kiran Gandhi's Strategic Move To Acquire Mitchell Starc For ₹11.75 Crores

Mitchell Starc has joined Delhi Capitals for ₹11.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah on November 24, 2024. This acquisition is a strategic move by DC to strengthen their bowling lineup with one of the top fast bowlers globally.

Delhi Capitals' owner, Kiran Gandhi, was once again active during the IPL 2024 Mega Auction. Known for inflating player prices, Gandhi secured Mitchell Starc at a reasonable price of 11.75 crores after initially driving up bids for other players.

In the auction, Delhi Capitals aggressively pursued Arshdeep Singh, who was the first player up for bidding. A fierce bidding war ensued between DC and CSK from the start. Eventually, SRH secured him at 15.75 crores before PBKS used their RTM card to match SRH's offer at 18 crores, making Arshdeep Singh the highest-priced Indian pacer in IPL history.

Kiran Gandhi employed a similar tactic with Shreyas Iyer, engaging in a bidding battle with Punjab Kings. The competition continued until Iyer's price reached 26.75 crores. At this point, Delhi withdrew from the race, allowing PBKS to acquire him.

Previously with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Starc fetched an impressive ₹24.75 crore, setting a record as the most expensive player in IPL history then. However, his return to this year's auction saw a reduced price due to limited availability from injuries and national duties.

Starc's IPL performance has been noteworthy, taking 51 wickets in 41 matches with an average of 22.29. His impact was crucial last season when he earned Player of the Match titles in both the Qualifier and final for KKR. Despite his success, Starc skipped several IPL seasons to manage his workload, influencing his lower price this year.

Smart Acquisition by Delhi Capitals

This time around, it was anticipated that Starc wouldn't command as high a fee as before. Last season saw him as the highest-paid player at 24.75 crores. With Royal Challengers Bengaluru exiting early from bidding this year, DC capitalised on this opportunity to secure Starc for a much lower amount of 11.75 crores.

The acquisition of Mitchell Starc by Delhi Capitals is seen as a calculated move to bolster their squad without overspending. By securing such a talented bowler at a reduced cost, DC aims to enhance their chances in upcoming matches while maintaining financial prudence.