Credit: X/Star Sports
One of the newest voices in the IPL, Steve Smith, the Australian cricketing star, analysed the performance of his national teammate Mitchell Starc for Kolkata Knight Riders against Delhi Capitals. The left-arm fast bowler picked up the wickets of his Australian teammates Mitchell Marsh and David Warner, playing a key role in their third straight win during the IPL 2024 campaign.
At the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, the Kolkata Knight Riders batters put on a stellar performance, registering the second-highest total in the history of the IPL, finishing up with 272/7, thanks mainly to the 85 off 39 from Sunil Narine. During the run chase, Mitchell Starc and the impact substitute Vaibhav Arora broke the back of the Delhi Capitals innings, picking up four wickets inside the powerplay.
Although the Delhi Capitals captain, Rishabh Pant, and Tristan Stubbs got the fifties, the team still went on to get bundled out for 166 within 18 overs, losing the match by a massive margin of 106 runs.
During this IPL 2024 clash between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, Steve Smith analysed the improved new ball spell from Mitchell Starc after his disappointing performances in his first two matches. The 34-year-old said, “I think that length where he (Mitchell Starc) got that wicket is the length that he bowls his best with the brand new ball. He gives it the chance to swing back down the line, but if it doesn’t swing or if he holds that wobble seam, he can go across the batter and get the outside edge as well.”
Starc will take confidence from Marsh’s wicket, says Steve Smith
Following Mitchell Starc’s two disappointing performances for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the early stages of the IPL 2024, the Australian fast bowler was under some scrutiny. But, after he managed to pick up a couple of wickets for KKR in their win against DC, Steve Smith remarked that his national teammate will take confidence from Mitchell Marsh’s wicket.
Steve Smith said, "He (Mitchell Starc) is an experienced campaigner, isn’t he? You expect him to hit the ground running. But obviously, (it) hasn’t been the greatest start to the IPL. But I think he is a confident player. And I am sure he is gonna take a lot of confidence out of getting Mitchell Marsh out, who is obviously one of our teammates, a quality batter, and he is gonna grow in confidence from that."
