Mitchell Starc Breaks Silence on Skipping IPL Return: “Comfortable With My Decision”

Mitchell Starc has opened up about his decision not to return to the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) following the Operation Sindoor-triggered disruption. While several of his Australian teammates rejoined the tournament once the ceasefire between India and Pakistan came into effect, the veteran left-arm pacer, who represented Delhi Capitals, chose otherwise.

Speaking on it for the first time, Starc made it clear that his decision was a deeply personal one, based on how events unfolded during the chaotic period in Dharamsala, when the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was abandoned midway due to escalating tensions.

“I’m comfortable with my decision and how I felt about the whole situation and how it was handled. That’s why I made my decision post-that, and my focus changed to red-ball cricket for about a week prior to coming over here. Time will tell with repercussions or how it looks with guys that didn’t return. But I’ve had my questions and concerns leading into that game, and obviously, we saw what happened, which played a part in my decision,” Starc told the Sydney Morning Herald.

During the crisis, players were evacuated from the stadium via a special train due to security threats. While the likes of Fraser-McGurk and Starc refrained from returning, the rest of the Punjab squad resumed IPL duties post-May 17, once normalcy was restored.

“Things were handled differently for different players and different teams. The guys up in Dharamsala, the Punjab guys, were part of that, and while both teams had similar experiences up there, all those guys returned for Punjab, and Jake Fraser-McGurk and I chose not to. So it was a very individual decision, and I’m happy to live with whatever comes of that,” said Starc.

Despite the decision, Starc was keen to underline his commitment to the franchise, asserting that he wasn’t someone to back out without legitimate reasons.

“I’m still heavily committed to the Delhi group, and I’m not someone who’s gone into tournaments and pulled out after being picked up in an auction or whatever that looks like. These are different circumstances,” Starc justified.

Interestingly, Starc also connected his IPL withdrawal to broader scheduling and safety concerns. He hinted that India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy and the subsequent relocation of matches to the UAE influenced his mindset.

“There was a little bit of that to my decision around the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. And then once the tournament was delayed, you start to think about guys’ preparation for the Test match,” he added.