Watch: KKR’s Mitchell Starc all set to join the team as the business side of the IPL picks up

Kolkata Knight Riders recorded an emphatic 24-run win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday and it wouldn’t have been possible without an all-round contribution.

The Knights are second on the points table and are just a pair of wins away from securing their place in the play-offs.

An ecstatic Mitchell Starc, who claimed three wickets himself, addressed the post-match press conference in Mumbai and said it was fantastic as they are second so are doing very well.

Speaking about his return to competition, Starc said: ‘It was great to be back in those days, it’s been a long time. It is of course getting to know a new group, seeing how a new group functions and also the role within it.’

The Australian praised the way KKR have performed in 2024: “And I think it has been a hallmark of our team. It hasn’t really been 1 or 2 guys who have performed in the 10 games. Obviously they’ve been guys in our opening partnership, and that’s been fantastic throughout the tournament.”

As Nuwan Aldushara tore through Kolkata’s top order, the onus was on Venkatesh Iyer and the rest of the middle line-up to rebuild, and Starc also shed light on his performance: ‘But today we had to rebuild through the middle. And Venky (Venkatesh Iyer) was fantastic to put a nice total on the board with Manish (Pandey) to defend, we thought after the start.’

In conclusion, the pacer was confident that as the business end of the tournament approaches, everyone in the team needs to step up once again and it was fantastic to come away with a really solid win.