Mitchell Starc reveals why he opted out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mitchell Starc is Australia’s second most successful bowler in ICC ODI events.

Australia entered the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 without several key players. Mitchell Starc was the latest to join the absentees list, which includes Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, and the retired Marcus Stoinis, just weeks before the tournament began.

Starc played all five tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 and also featured in both tests of Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka 2025 in Galle.

Initially named in Australia’s provisional squad for the Champions Trophy, Starc withdrew from the tournament citing to personal reasons.

The 35-year-old New South Wales (NSW) pacer has now revealed why he decided against participating in the tournament.

Mitchell Starc reveals why he opted out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Speaking to the Willow Talk Podcast, Starc revealed that ankle pain, along with some personal views, influenced his decision. He also emphasized that the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final against South Africa in June remains his top priority.

Starc said, “There’s a few different reasons, some personal views, and had a bit of ankle pain through the test series [against Sri Lanka]. So just get that one right, obviously we’ve got the test final coming up and a West Indies tour after that.“

“There’s some IPL cricket as well, but my main one top of my mind is that test final so get my body right, play some cricket in the next couple of months and then ready to go for the test final.“

Starc has been Australia’s key weapon in ICC tournaments. The left-arm pacer finished as Australia’s highest wicket-taker in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and 2019 editions. He is also the fastest bowler to reach 200 wickets in ODIs.

Australia currently have three points from two games in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. They will face Afghanistan on February 28 in Lahore in their last group-stage fixture.

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