- Mitchell Starc has explained how he learnt of his big IPL deal
- He broke the record at the IPL auction on Tuesday
- Wife Alyssa Healy informed him of the incredible news
Mitchell Starc was informed that he was a record holder by his wife Alyssa Healy after cricket’s power couple were made over $4million richer on Tuesday.
The Aussie bowler landed the biggest deal in IPL history at this year’s auction, with the Kolkata Knights paying an eye-watering $4.4m for his services.
The veteran quick smashed Pat Cummins’s record – set an hour earlier – of $3.6m, and it was fellow cricketer and wife Alyssa who broke the news to him in the late hours of Tuesday night.
‘I’m not sure any words would do it justice, really,’ Starc said in an interview with Star Sports.
‘Alyssa was over there with the Australian team at the minute, so her coverage was slightly ahead of mine here in Australia. So she sort of saw the numbers before I did, so I was getting the updates through her.
Mitchell Starc learnt of his huge IPL deal from his cricket star wife Alyssa Healy
Starc was bought by Kolkata Knights for $4.4million on Tuesday evening
‘But, yeah, a fair bit of shock, and certainly excitement with how it was all unfolding. But nothing that I could’ve ever imagined.’
Healy reacted to the news by posting a video of herself drinking a beer to celebrate.
Starc has not played in the IPL since 2015, with it being reported that he has missed out on $15million in earnings by staying away from the best T20 league in the world.
With Cummins and Travis Head among a handful of Aussies to receive big paydays, Starc said the team’s WhatsApp group was lively on Tuesday.
‘The team chat has been going nuts,’ he said. ‘The are all saying it’s our shout, so we’ll just go about our business and get ready for the next Test match. But a few of our Australian teammates might be waiting for us to treat them.
‘It could be an interesting conversation between the bowling group tomorrow and the gym.’
Starc and Australia captain Pat Cummins have landed huge IPL moves
Healy said Starc’s payday had been ‘justification’ for many years of hard work and his selfless commitment to the national side at the expense of previous lucrative IPL contracts.
‘I was in the gym trying to do a gym session while the IPL auction was on the TV, so it was quite a distraction for our whole group,’ she said.
‘It was an amazing night for him, and obviously justification for a lot of years of hard work. ‘(He’s) looking forward to an opportunity to come back and be part of the IPL.’