Mitchell Starc reveals the bizarre way he discovered he'd broken a record with his staggering $4.4 million payday in the Indian Premier League
- Mitchell Starc has explained how he heard about his big IPL deal
- He broke the record in the IPL auction on Tuesday
- Wife Alyssa Healy informed him of the incredible news
Mitchell Starc was told by his wife Alyssa Healy that he was the record holder after cricket's power couple became more than $4 million richer on Tuesday.
The Australian bowler bagged the biggest deal in IPL history at this year's auction, with the Kolkata Knights paying a whopping $4.4 million for his services.
The veteran quickly broke Pat Cummins' record – set an hour earlier – of $3.6 million, and it was fellow cricketer and wife Alyssa who broke the news to him in the late hours of Tuesday evening.
“I'm not sure words would do it justice,” Starc said in an interview with Star Sports.
“Alyssa was there with the Australian team at the time, so her coverage was a little higher than mine here in Australia. So she saw the numbers before I did, so I got the updates through her.
Mitchell Starc heard about his huge IPL deal from his cricket star wife Alyssa Healy
Starc was bought by Kolkata Knights for $4.4 million on Tuesday evening
“But yeah, quite a shock, and certainly excitement about how it all unfolded. But nothing I could have ever imagined.”
Healy responded to the news by posting a video of herself drinking a beer to celebrate.
Starc has not played in the IPL since 2015, reportedly missing out on $15 million in revenue by staying away from the world's top T20 league.
With Cummins and Travis Head among a handful of Aussies receiving big paydays, Starc said the team's WhatsApp group was lively on Tuesday.
“The team chat has gotten completely out of hand,” he said. “They all say it's our call, so we'll just go about our business and get ready for the next Test match. But we may have some of our Australian teammates waiting for us to deal with them.
“It could be an interesting conversation between tomorrow's bowling group and the gym.”
Starc and Australian captain Pat Cummins have made huge IPL moves
Healy said Starc's payday was a 'vindication' for many years of hard work and his selfless commitment to the national side, at the expense of previous lucrative IPL contracts.
“I was at the gym doing a gym session while the IPL auction was on TV, so it was quite a distraction for our entire group,” she said.
'It was a great evening for him, and of course vindication for many years of hard work. “(He) is looking forward to the opportunity to come back and be part of the IPL.”