Mitchell Starc eyes return to IPL in 2024

Mitchell Starc has been away from the Indian Premier League (IPL) for some time, favoring ODI cricket and international formats while out of league action. The Aussie star gave greater preference to long format cricket and became one of his national team’s deadliest red and white ball bowlers.

Starch played key roles throughout Australia’s successful campaigns at the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup, 2015 ODI World Cup, and many other prestigious tournaments. His IPL break seems to be at an end as he has hinted a return to India’s premier competition.  

Why Does Mitchell Starc Want a Return to IPL Cricket?

Starc strongly feels that the high-octane, adrenaline-pumping action of IPL cricket will be a major boost ahead of the T20 World Cup in June 2024. The experienced cricketer believes taking his game away from longer formats onto fast-paced games will help his game tremendously when Twenty20 proceedings kick off in the USA and West Indies next year.

The IPL 2024 calendar usually ends a few weeks before international games kick off, so Mitchell Starc might be on to something here. His resilience and drive to perform on one of the most-demanding cricket events could set off exciting performances for him across both tournaments.

Has Any Franchise Come Forward to Pick Starc?

Starc is not currently on the radar of any IPL franchise, but it won’t be long before a team comes forward to snatch him up. The Starc comeback to IPL cricket would bring his 8-year hiatus to an end:

“Look it’s been eight years. I’m definitely going back in [next] year,” Starc commented at a recent podcast when asked about IPL cricket and his ambitions.

“Amongst other things, it’s a great lead-up to the T20 World Cup… So a good opportunity to see if anyone’s interested in the IPL, then lead into the T20 World Cup. And it’s somewhat of a quiet winter next year…in comparison to this winter, so I think a perfect opportunity to put my name in.”

Many franchises like the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) could show interest in the experienced cricketer.

Starc’s Record in the IPL

Starc played across two seasons for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), taking part in over two-dozen games for one of the IPL’s top franchises. He left IPL cricket in 2015 but failed to make any attempt to return for three seasons. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) drew up a deal for him in 2018, but Starc could not participate due to injury.

Why Did Starc Fail to Make an IPL Return After 2018?

Starc’s botched attempt to feature for KKR would signal the need for him to rest from fast-paced cricket. After the 2018 deal collapsed, he opted to spend more time in Australian cricket and took part in several formats throughout his prolonged IPL absence.

Is There a Demanding Calendar Ahead for Starc in 2024?

Australia’s upcoming cricket calendar will be one of their lightest in years. The Aussies will take part in a scheduled New Zealand tour in March, the T20 World Cup in June, and white ball series against England, Ireland, and Afghanistan in August. The light calendar could work to Starc’s advantage if he gets a chance at IPL cricket next season.  

Mitchell Starc Bowling Stats

(Stats are accurate as of September 12, 2023)

Mitchell Starc Batting and Fielding

 (Stats are accurate as of September 12, 2023)