By Zainab Shafiq 
The IPL 2024 season concluded with a spectacular final, showcasing an exceptional turnaround by Mitchell Starc and a commanding performance by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Bought for a staggering INR 24.75 crore at the auctions, Starc faced early criticism for his lackluster start, conceding over 100 runs without taking a single wicket in his first two matches. However, he silenced his critics with a stunning resurgence, notably securing three wickets in Qualifier 1 and earning the Man of the Match title.
Starc credits wife Alyssa for IPL 2024 turnaround
Starc attributed his improved form to the presence of his wife, Alyssa Healy. “Everything’s better since Alyssa (Healy) has turned up,” he shared with Star Sports.
In the high-stakes final held on May 26 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) won the toss and elected to bat. Starc’s momentum continued as he dismantled SRH’s top order, claiming the crucial wickets of Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi during the powerplay. SRH struggled throughout their innings, managing only 113 runs before being bowled out.
KKR’s chase was clinical and untroubled. Despite an early setback losing Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer’s unbeaten 52 off 26 balls guided them to a comfortable eight-wicket victory. This triumph secured KKR’s third IPL title, capping off an impressive season.
Reflecting on the journey, Starc remarked,
“It was an upward journey from the start of the IPL till now. We’ve had a fantastic squad of bowlers and batters, our staff have been fantastic to get everyone peaking for the back end of the tournament. We’ve been such a consistent side, we haven’t had one or two people standout, it’s been contributions from everyone.”
Notably, the IPL 2024 concluded with a total prize purse of INR 46.5 crore. KKR received INR 20 crore as winners, while the runners-up, SRH, took home INR 12.5 crore. Individual accolades included Virat Kohli winning the Orange Cap for the most runs and Harshal Patel claiming the Purple Cap for the most wickets. The final highlighted the thrilling and competitive nature of this season, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next.
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