Mitchell Starc has finally opened up about why he withdrew from the Champions Trophy after it was initially stated that he opted out for personal reasons.
The Australian pacer had been struggling with an ankle injury during the Test series in Sri Lanka, and he also had some personal considerations. Combining these factors, Starc decided to sit out the tournament.
Australia will be missing its core pace trio—Pat Cummins, Starc, and Josh Hazlewood—at the global event. While Cummins and Hazlewood were ruled out early due to injuries, Starc’s absence in the final squad announcement came as a major surprise.
At the time, chief selector George Bailey explained that Starc had withdrawn for personal reasons, and the management fully supported his decision.
Until now, the specifics of those ‘personal reasons’ remained unclear. However, Starc recently addressed the matter for the first time on the ‘Willow Talk’ podcast.
“There are quite a few different reasons… some personal views, some lingering ankle pain from the Sri Lanka series… so I wanted to get everything sorted. We’ve got the Test Championship final coming up, then the West Indies tour…,” Starc said.
He did not clarify whether his ‘personal views’ were related to injury concerns or something else.
Australia is set to play South Africa in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June. Before that, the IPL is on the calendar, and Starc confirmed his intention to participate in the tournament. However, he emphasized that his top priority remains the Test Championship final.
“The IPL is there, but my main focus is ensuring my body is ready for the Test final. Over the next couple of months, I’ll play some cricket and prepare myself for that big match.”
Last season, Starc was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for a record ₹24.75 crore. While his overall performance was mixed, he delivered a match-winning spell in the final to secure Kolkata’s victory. However, KKR released him before this year’s auction, and he was picked up by Delhi Capitals for ₹11.75 crore.
Meanwhile, Pat Cummins has also resumed bowling as he recovers from injury, with an eye on the IPL. Last season, he led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the final, and the franchise retained him for ₹18 crore.
Josh Hazlewood is also working his way back and could return in the IPL. Royal Challengers Bangalore acquired him for ₹12.5 crore in this year’s auction.
