Mitchell Starc aims to return to the Ind T20 League with a bang

Mitchell Starc’s break from the Ind T20 League is all set to end with the pacer eyeing a return to the competition in 2024. He last made an appearance in the T20 league in 2015. 

Despite Starc being regarded as one of the menacing bowlers of this generation in white ball cricket, having led the wicket charts in the previous two editions of the ODI World Series, he has opted to remain a safe distance from the Indian T20 League over the years. The speedster has only been a part of the 2014 and 2015 editions of the tournament but is now set to foot in the auction in order to play the following year. 

Over the years, the pacer has averted from the Indian T20 League in order to spend time with his family, allowing himself to stay fit and fresh amidst the hectic international schedule. He was a part of the 2018 auction and was bought by Kolkata but he backed out at the last instance due to an injury. He stayed away from the 2019 edition as well with the ODI World Series scheduled to commence by the end of May. With the World Test Championship Final and the Ashes scheduled this year, Starc skipped over again. 

However, the left arm pacer is focusing on the Ind T20 League to prepare himself for the forthcoming T20 World Series scheduled to be played in the Caribbean and the United States of America in June, 2024 “I 'm definitely going back in (next) year," Starc told the Willow Talk cricket podcast. "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 Ind T20 League, 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 it's a perfect opportunity to put my name in."

Starc has also expressed keen interest to play 100 Tests for Australia and has indicated that he is uncertain of his future in the ODI format post the ODI World Series.  "It took me a long time to feel like I was good enough at Test cricket," he said. "So I want to really give that the biggest crack I've got. I've thoroughly enjoyed white-ball cricket and that's probably where I got my main opportunities as well. I'd like to be good enough to get to 100 Tests. Not just to get to 100, I'd like to be good enough to be picked for 100 Tests.

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