Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is taking legal action to get $1.53 million of his Indian Premier League contract paid out after he was injured in last year's ill-fated Test series against South Africa.

Starc, 29, filed a lawsuit in the Victorian County Court last week against the insurers of his lucrative deal to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the world's richest T20 tournament.

Mitchell Starc dismissed Faf du Plessis during the first Test in South Africa in 2018. Credit:AP

The left-arm quick was one of the most sought-after Australian players at the 2018 IPL auction when he was snapped up for $1.8 million, a price tag bettered only by the hard-hitting Chris Lynn who went for $1.86 million.

However, Starc failed to bowl a delivery during the tournament when he broke down with injury in the preceding series against South Africa, which was marred by the ball-tampering plot that led to bans for Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.