Mitchell Starc plans to make a return to IPL after a gap of 8 years

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc last played in 2015 edition of IPL.

Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc announced his intention to make a return to Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2024 edition, marking his comeback to the tournament after an eight-years absence. The decision, is driven by his desire to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA next year.

Mitchell Starc's last IPL appearance goes back to 2015, when he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Since then, injuries and busy international cricket schedule for Australia have kept him away from IPL. He had briefly joined the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018 but was forced to withdraw due to injury. Despite contemplating returns in the past, Starc consistently prioritised his commitments for his country.

With a comparatively lighter schedule, featuring only T20 World Cup between a New Zealand tour in March and white-ball series against Afghanistan, Ireland, and England starting in late August, Starc saw an ideal window to make a comeback to Indian Premier League .

'Perfect opportunity to put my name in,' says Mitchell Starc

Starc expressed his intentions in a recent interview on the Willow Talk Cricket Podcast, stating, "Look, it's been eight years. I'm definitely going back next year. Among other things, it's a great lead-up to the T20 World Cup. So, it's a good opportunity to see if anyone's interested in the IPL, which then leads into the T20 World Cup. And it's somewhat of a quiet winter next year, in comparison to this winter, so I think it's a perfect opportunity to put my name in."

His return to IPL has sparked interest due to his previous prioritisation to test cricket. Starc, who currently has 82 test appearances, aims not only to reach a century but to be consistently play 100 test matches, a feat that has been achieved by only one Australian fast bowler till now Glenn McGrath.

Starc's ambitions don't stop there. He also voiced his excitement about the upcoming World Cup, emphasising the enthusiasm cricket fans in India bring to the tournament. Looking further ahead, he expressed his role in the one-day format.

Starc remains focused on the immediate future, saying, "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."