New Delhi: Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has finally broken his silence on his decision to skip the remainder of the IPL 2025 season flared between India and Pakistan. Starc played a key role in Dekhi’s squad this season, and he admitted it wasn’t an easy choice but he had to take a call in the given circumstances.
Starc had featured for the Capitals in their match against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on May 8, which was abruptly abandoned after the lights went out in the stadium. The match was stopped amid security concerns following Operation Sindoor, a military operation launched after Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam.
The situation in Dharamsala was tense with Starc’s wife, Alyssa Healy, also present during the game. With the stadium close to the international border, the crowd was evacuated urgently. Reflecting on that day, Starc admitted he had reservations even before the match began.
“I’m comfortable with my decision and how I felt about the whole situation and how it was handled,” Starc told The Age. “That’s why I made my decision post-that, and my focus changed to red-ball cricket for about a week before coming over here (the UK).”
A personal choice
Starc emphasised that the decision not to return for the IPL’s resumption was deeply personal. “Time will tell with repercussions or how it looks with guys that didn’t return. But I’ve had my questions and concerns leading into that game, and obviously we saw what happened, which played a part in my decision,” he added.
The Australian pacer also revealed that he had chosen to skip the Champions Trophy in Pakistan earlier this year for similar reasons, prioritising his preparation for Australia’s World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s.
Starc pointed out that inconsistent communication from different teams also factored into his decision. “Things were handled differently for different players and different teams. The guys up in Dharamsala, the Punjab guys were part of that, and while both teams had similar experiences, all those guys returned for Punjab, and Jake (Fraser-McGurk) and I chose not to,” he said.
Starc added, “It was a very individual decision, and I’m happy to live with whatever comes of that. I’m still heavily committed to the Delhi group and I’m not someone that’s gone into tournaments and pulled out after being picked up in an auction or whatever that looks like. These are different circumstances.”
He admitted the lack of clarity about the situation made it even harder to commit to returning. “It was more a question of not having enough information leading into making a decision about things of that degree,” Starc said. “I had a discussion back home, then came to a decision, and whatever comes from that I’m comfortable with.”
Looking ahead
Starc confirmed that Australia would stick to their brand of cricket in the upcoming World Test Championship final. “We’ll stay true to how we’ve been playing our cricket, the way we’ve been playing to get into this final,” he said.
While Starc’s decision may raise questions, he is still clear in his mind that he did what felt right under challenging circumstances. Only time will reveal the full impact of his choice but for now, the focus is on red-ball cricket and the big stage at Lord’s.
Mitchell Starc explains his IPL 2025 absence, citing security concerns and personal reasons while focusing on Australia’s red-ball cricket campaign. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
