NEWS
Follow UsAustralia pacer Mitchell Starc is looking to return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, as he sees it as an ideal preparation for the T20 World Cup 2024 in June, set to be played in the US and West Indies.
Starc last played in the IPL in 2015 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), for whom he turned up for a couple of seasons. He was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2018, but an injury kept him out. Besides that, he has been reluctant to put his name in the auction, given the hectic schedule with Australia, for whom he plays in all three formats.
However, 2024 does not seem that hectic for Starc and Australia as they have just the tour of New Zealand in March and the white-ball series against Afghanistan and Ireland in August on either side of the T20 World Cup.
"Look, it's been eight years. 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 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."
One of the main reasons Starc does not play in the IPL is to be fit and available for Test matches. He has played 82 Tests so far, and he desires to break the 100-Test barrier. Among Aussie quicks, only Glenn McGrath has played over 100 Tests.
"Not just get to 100, I'd like to be good enough to be picked for 100 Tests," he said.
"And then the big one obviously in a couple of weeks is the World Cup, which in India just goes to another level.
"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."
Starc is rested for Australia's white-ball tour of South Africa but is expected to return for the ODI series against India ahead of the World Cup, starting October 5.
