Mitchell Starc bends his way to justify price tag

So, five deliveries into the IPL final in Chennai on Sunday, the Australian left-arm pacer unleashed a peach from over the wicket to the left-handed Sunrisers Hyderabad opener that pitched on leg stump and swung away late to hit the top of off. Abhishek, hopelessly squared up, could do nothing but quietly begin walking back to the dugout. Starc went on to take another wicket for figures of 3-0-14-2 as Sunrisers were bowled out for 113 in 18.3 overs. KKR chased the target in 10.3 overs to claim their third IPL title.

Just five days ago in Qualifier 1, against the same opponents, Starc had set the tone by dismissing compatriot Travis Head for 0 in the opening over of the game. The manner of dismissal was identical – full, swinging away from the left-hand batter and hitting timber. Starc finished with 3/34 in four overs as Sunrisers were skittled for 159 and KKR made their way to the final.

This was a Sunrisers team that had amassed totals of 287/3 and 277/3 earlier this season. And yet twice against KKR at the business end, they failed to bat their full quota of overs. Starc’s role was decisive, illustrated in the 34-year-old finishing the tournament with consecutive Player-of-the-Match awards.