What happened? An Afternoon of Destruction
Mitchell Starc, one of the most feared left-arm pacers in world cricket, etched his name into IPL history with a scintillating performance today against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday. Starc, now the Purple Cap holder, delivered a spell of sheer brilliance, picking up a stunning five-wicket haul that left cricket fans in awe and SRH all-out before the 20-over mark.
Starc’s outstanding figures of 5 wickets for just 35 runs shattered a few records in the process - and set up a remarkable Delhi Capitals victory in Vizag.
1. The first 5-for of the IPL season
Starc’s fifer is the first of this edition, a rare and prestigious bowling achievement in a tournament often dominated by batters. It served as a timely reminder of how lethal he can be in the shortest format of the game. With pitches generally tilted towards high-scoring affairs and bowlers viewed as second-class citizens in T20 cricket, Starc’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary. His opening spell of three overs itself sealed the job.
2. Historic Figures for DC
In the process, Mitchell Starc set a new benchmark for us. His 5/35 are now the best bowling figures by a pacer in DC’s IPL history. We have had several iconic pacers over the years, including Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Morne Morkel, setting this record is no small feat. Remarkably, Starc also became only the second bowler in DC's history to claim a five-wicket haul in the IPL. The first, of course, was veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who achieved his fifer way back in 2008, during the inaugural season of the tournament. To say that this moment was a long time coming for Delhi fans would be an understatement.
3. A Personal Milestone: Starc’s First T20 Fifer
To add more significance to the occasion, this was the first five-wicket haul of Mitchell Starc’s T20 career. Despite being a T20 superstar for over a decade, turning out for multiple franchises around the world and representing Australia in numerous high-stakes games, Starc had never before picked up five wickets in a single T20 match. The fact that he achieved this landmark on such a grand stage, in a high-pressure IPL game, only adds to the glory of the accomplishment. Starc, who is often known for delivering in crunch moments, has added yet another chapter to his illustrious career.
4. Sunrisers Hyderabad: Starc’s Favourite Opponents
For Mitchell Starc, it seems the Sunrisers Hyderabad have become a preferred hunting ground. Today’s milestone performance was not the first time that Starc left SRH shell-shocked with his devastating bowling. Fans will recall his heroics against the same side in the previous season. In Qualifier 1, Starc dismantled the SRH lineup with figures of 3/34 and followed it up with a match-winning 2/14 in the final. With today’s annihilation, Starc proved yet again that he thrives on the big occasions and seems to have a particular knack for hurting SRH when it matters most.
5. Three Consecutive POTMs against SRH
Starc won the Player of the Match on Sunday. He now has three consecutive Player of the Match trophies against Sunrisers Hyderabad, after the two clutch performances in IPL 2024.
