Kolkata Knight Riders replaced Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc with Sri Lanka seamer Dushmantha Chameera for the game against Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens on Friday. KKR captain Shreyas Iyer said at the toss that Starc had cut his finger during their previous match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. KKR handling mentor Ryan ten Doeschate later affirmed that the quick bowler was "exceptionally near being back". "Starcy got his finger in one of his studs in the last game," he said in the post-match question and answer session. "It's abrased on his bowling finger, he's clearly letting out of that finger and we simply thought with that and Dushy [Chameera] being really new and all set that we give Dushy a game and allow Starcy an opportunity to figure his finger out. "In any case, supposedly, he is extremely near being back, which will either be the following game or the game after that." Coming into the season, having been purchased at the closeout for a record amount of INR 24.75 crore (USD 2.98 million approx.), Starc has had a forgettable mission such a long ways with KKR. He has overseen only six wickets while surrendering runs at 11.48 per over. Against RCB at Eden Nurseries, Starc was given the last finished. He needed to protect 21, and negative. 9 Karn Sharma looking up. However, he was hit for three sixes by Karn before in the end taking a decent return-catch to seal the success in the end. He wound up with figures of 1 for 55 from three overs. That was the third time this season that Starc has gone for 50 runs or more in a game - and the second match in succession. His best presentation of the time came against Lucknow Super Monsters in a day game at Eden Nurseries, when he took three wickets and offered only 28 races to assist with setting up an agreeable triumph. Starc is playing the IPL this year following a hole of eight years. He last played in 2015 for RCB, when he took 20 wickets at an economy of 6.76. Starc was evaluated at the ground on Friday on the ball against Lords, yet he referenced nothing about his finger niggle. He talked about returning to the IPL after the long break, and what he's gaining from the experience. "No doubt returning, clearly an alternate group to where I was rearward in the IPL, so getting to meet a ton of the folks I have played against a tad... A few more youthful folks in the KKR crew, getting to know a couple of the more youthful bowlers," he said. "There's a great deal of ability around with bat and ball. "[I'm] getting to know how these folks go about it and gain from them also, and attempt and answer any inquiries they have. I've returned a more seasoned player than when I was rearward in the IPL, yet at the same it's loads of tomfoolery." For Chameera, this will be his most memorable appearance of the time. It's his second legitimate go at the IPL: he was important for RCB in 2021 yet didn't get a game, and played 12 games for Lucknow Super Monsters in 2022.