Irfan Pathan says KKR are still searching for Mitchell Starc’s replacement ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan reckons Kolkata Knight Riders are still searching for Mitchell Starc’s replacement ahead of the IPL 2026. Starc had played an instrumental role in taking KKR to glory in IPL 2024 but the franchise could not defend its title in the last edition.

The Australian gun fast bowler had scalped 17 wickets in 14 matches for KKR in IPL 2024 and he had starred in the playoffs. However, Starc moved to Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, and KKR missed his services.

Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube Channel, “They are still searching for Mitchell Starc’s replacement. When Starc came the year before this, he made a huge impact, especially in the later stage of the tournament. Anrich Nortje and Spencer Johnson did come but they couldn’t quite deliver the same performance. The big talking point is of Venkatesh Iyer, who went for ₹23.75 crore. Not that he is not a good player but he could not live up to the price that got shelled out.

“It is a problem for the team if a player fetching such a massive amount cannot be consistent. He might go in the auction but KKR might also buy him back at a lesser price. Hence, KKR can get a purse of ₹30 crore. Umran Malik was injured and was replaced. Thus, KKR can go into the auction with a bigger purse.”

On the other hand, Pathan highlighted that the Delhi Capitals started well in IPL 2025 but veered off the track in the later stages of the league stage.

“They spent ₹9 crore on Jake Fraser-McGurk. Delhi stood 5th in the table. They played well at the start and struggled later. I felt Delhi should’ve qualified but they made mistakes. If Fraser-McGurk, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis and T Natarajan are to be released – I say Du Plessis because age might catch up. He has been a good player and captain. He is experienced too but you can find players moving forward. The way Mohit Sharma performed for Gujarat, he couldn’t do the same for Delhi. His economy rate wasn’t high and didn’t play regularly.”

The former swing bowler said Delhi has the potential to go deep in the tournament as they have quality players.

“Natarajan also hardly played. Delhi didn’t spend ₹10.75 crore on him and they will think to put him on the auction to buy at a lesser price. Delhi can go in with a purse of about ₹20 to 22 crore. I feel Delhi Capitals are a settled unit. If Starc had returned, it would’ve been valuable. They have good spinners too in Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. KL Rahul is also an excellent addition. It remains to be seen what they do with Fraser-McGurk because he is hit and miss.”

The IPL 2025 retention deadline date is November 15.