"They are still searching for Mitchell Starc’s replacement" - Former India star makes massive remark on KKR's struggles in IPL 2025

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan shared his take on Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) struggles in IPL 2025 after winning the 2024 edition. Pathan believed one of the main reasons of their struggles was the absence of star fast bowler Mitchell Starc.

Starc became the most expensive player in IPL history during the auction ahead of the 2024 edition, fetching ₹24.75 crore from KKR. He was inconsistent until the knockouts but raised his game several notches in the playoffs.

But despite delivering match-winning spells in both Qualifier 1 and final, the Knight Riders released Starc and failed to qualify for the playoffs of the 2025 edition.

Speaking in the video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Pathan observed that KKR had hoped that Spencer Johnson or Anrich Nortje would be able to replicate Starc's performance, but they failed. As far as the Knight Riders' releases go ahead of the upcoming auction, he expects Venkatesh Iyer to be let go. He elaborated:

"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."

Iyer managed only 142 runs in 11 games in the 2025 edition at 20.28 with a strike rate of 139.21. With Ajinkya Rahane at the helm, Kolkata finished eighth in the standings with five wins in 14 games.

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"They played well at the start and struggled later" - Irfan Pathan on Delhi Capitals' performance in IPL 2025

Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025. (Credits: Getty)

Talking about Delhi Capitals' potential release, Pathan felt the likes of Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis and T Natarajan could be let go. He said:

"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."

However, he argued that the Capitals still have a settled unit and the potential to go deep into the tournament in IPL 2026. He added:

"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 Capitals' best performance in IPL history was when they reached the final in 2020.