Mitchell Starc sues insurer for $1.53m after missing last IPL

In order to procure the huge amount of wealth he had lost for failing to play in the last edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has decided to take legal action. In the 2018 auction,  Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had splashed a staggering amount of INR 9.4 crore to secure Starc’s services as the Australia was tipped to lead the franchise’s bowling attack. In fact, Starc was the second costliest Australian in the auction after Chris Lynn.

However, Starc could not deliver a single ball in the league after being ruled out of action due to an injury he suffered during the tour of the South Africa just before the IPL. In the second Test at Port Elizabeth, Starc had suffered a calf complaint before succumbing to a fracture of his right tibial bone in the third Test in Cape Town. This was the same Test which was marred by the ball-tampering scandal which also made David Warner and Steve Smith miss the IPL. The Knight Riders had later replaced Starc by signing English all-rounder Tom Curran.

Starc seeks legal action:

The left-arm pacer is now taking legal action against his insurer to claim back the A$1.53 m that he lost out on after missing the IPL. According to reports in Fairfax Media, Starc has filed a lawsuit in the Victorian County Court last week against the insurers of his deal. According to court documents, Starc took out a $1.53m policy, which was effective if he missed the IPL season through injury.

The World Cup-winning fast-bowler is suing a syndicate of Lloyd’s of London to claim his amount. The writ states Starc paid a premium of $97,920 to be covered between 27 February and 31 March in 2018, when the tournament ended. Starc also reportedly underwent full medical by the insurers and that a number of exclusions were in the contract for old injuries.

“The parties have exchanged correspondence about the plaintiff’s claim which culminated in a final response from the defendant’s representative in the form of an email sent on 22 November 2018,” the writ said.

“That email confirmed the defendant’s contention that the plaintiff is not entitled to the total disablement benefit,” it added.

Starc or his representative are yet to make a comment on this issue. The pacer, meanwhile, is not playing in the ongoing season of the league. After being released by the Knight Riders last year, he had not put his name in the list for auction.

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