Mitchell Starc (17 wickets @ 26.11)

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Mitchell Starc has been expensive with the ball and leaked runs at an economy closer to 11, but the left-armer found his rhythm in the closing stages of the tournament as he collected consecutive Player of the Match efforts in his final two matches.

Starc was making a comeback to the IPL for the first time since 2015 and was purchased for a hefty 24.75 crores by Kolkata Knight Riders.

“The expectation that comes with the price tag sometimes it makes players push out a little bit harder and try to do more than they need to do.” Ponting said.

Starc endured some of his worst spells at Eden Gardens, the home of Knight Riders, at one stage he’d given away runs at an economy of 14.8 in three successive home games.

Ponting opined that this was due to different conditions at play in India, and believed the player could’ve greater impact in slightly different conditions during the T20 World Cup.

“You know, conditions where Mitch is bowling at Eden Gardens, the ball didn’t really swing much there this year, and the ground is like, like it’s a small ground and the outfield’s like concrete,” Ponting noted.

“And when you’re bowling at Starc’s pace, inside edges that just make their way through the field end up going for four.

“It’s not the easiest place in the world to bowl fast, but, you know, if we go to the Caribbean where the wind’s a little bit slower and the ball’s not flying off the bat quite as hard, then Starc will have an impact.”