“It’s still all about red-ball cricket for me,” grounded Mitchell Starc says, despite his hefty IPL contract.

Recently, Australian speedster Mitchell Starc became the talk of the town during the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, breaking records and signing a massive $4.42 million (INR 24.75 cr) contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders. With this substantial payment, Starc made history in the IPL and made his long-awaited comeback to the T20 league.

An intense three-way bidding war that ultimately favored the Kolkata Knight Riders made the auction night an absolute rollercoaster. The fierce struggle that resulted in Mitchell Starc breaking the record for the biggest fee for an Australian cricket player was preceded by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc partner and captain of Australia, landing a $3.67 million (INR 20.50 cr) agreement.

Mitchell Starc, who is renowned for his explosive pace on the field, was unable to avoid the lighthearted conversation that broke out before the Boxing Day Test match against Pakistan. Starc made fun of Cameron Green’s IPL profits last year, but now the roles have been reversed. Green didn’t pass up the opportunity to exact revenge on Starc after winning $3.15 million (INR 17.5 cr) in the previous auction.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Mitchell Starc said on Sunday, “It’s probably fairly fair… Greeny didn’t miss a chance yesterday or today, and the bowlers have been giving him stick for his IPL stuff for the past 12 months.”

In retrospect, Starc said, “I didn’t plan on watching it, but I couldn’t take the dogs for a walk like I had planned to because of the storms that blew up in Sydney.” The Australian women’s captain, Alyssa Healy, his wife, kept him informed on the Indian auction and Australian assistant coach Dan Vettori, too. Starc called the event a “pleasant surprise.”

I still think red-ball cricket is the best sport. Mitchell Starc

The void in the Test calendar and the impending T20 World Cup had an impact on Starc’s decision to rejoin the IPL after a break since 2015. Starc highlighted how dedicated he is to international and Test cricket, opting for the IPL rather than spending a few months bowling in the nets.

“For me, red-ball cricket remains the most important sport, and I’m sure my body will alert me before I want to that Test cricket is finished. The IPL and the kind of cricket that competition offers make for a great lead-up to the T20 World Cup next year,” he confirmed, highlighting how the IPL run-in complements the T20 World Cup.

Starc expressed optimism about the MCG wicket and the impending Test series, saying he was expecting a more bowler-friendly pitch. He noted, highlighting the necessity of a fair struggle between bat and ball, “It’s much more friendly to us guys [bowlers] the last few years.”

Starc stays focused and concentrates on the next Test matches, despite the big IPL agreement. He underlined the importance of the Boxing Day Test and expressed his desire to help win a series by saying, “The auction has happened, but it’s not April, so I’ve got five or six Test matches to focus on.”