Mitchell Starc Confirms IPL Comeback; Will Enter Player Auction Next Year

Mitchell Starc says he’s going to make himself available for the next IPL auction hoping to be part of the T20 competition for the first time since 2015. Starc has not played in the franchise-based league prioritising Australia career, especially his Test ambitions hoping to become second bowler after Glenn McGrath from his country to clock 100 appearances in the format.

Starc is hoping to use IPL as a platform to gear up for the next year’s T20 World Cup which will be held in the Caribbean and USA.

Starc has so far played 27 matches in IPL for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and taken 34 wickets at 20.38.

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“Look it’s been eight years. I’m definitely going back in [next] year. Amongst other things, it’s a great lead-up to the T20 World Cup,” Stacr told Willow Talk Cricket Podcast about his IPL plans.

“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,” he added.

One of Starc’s big ambitions is to emulate McGrath who remains the only Australian pacer to have played in 100 or more Tests.

“Not just get to 100, I’d like to be good enough to be picked for 100 Tests. And then the big one obviously in a couple of weeks is the World Cup, which in India just goes to another level,” the 33-year-old said.

Starc isn’t looking too far ahead though.

“And then you look at the one-day format, it’s sort of four years in between World Cups, so where do I see myself in that mix? But I’ve got to get to the end of this World Cup first.

“But we’ve got some superstars coming through. You’ve got your Jhye Richardsons, your Sean Abbotts, your Spencer Johnsons. You’ve got plenty of young guys coming through. [Lance] Morris is going to be a gun.

“I try not to look too far ahead with anything. Obviously, we want to do well in the World Cup. Then we’ve got five Test matches here in Australia and then I haven’t actually played a Test in New Zealand, so hopefully I’m on that tour and look forward to that challenge as well,” he said.