Australia’s star pacer Mitchell Starc has confirmed his availability for the next IPL auction, hoping to be part of the cash-rich league for the first time since 2015.
Starc had opted to prioritise his Australia career rather than the T20 league, hoping to become second bowler after Glenn McGrath from his country to clock 100 appearances in the Test format.
However, Starc is now hoping to use IPL 2024 as a platform to prepare for the next year’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in the Caribbean and USA.
In IPL, Starc has played 27 matches for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), picking 34 wickets at an average of 20.38.
“Look it’s been eight years. I’m definitely going back in [next] year. Amongst other things, it’s a great lead-up to the T20 World Cup,” Stacr told Willow Talk Cricket Podcast about his IPL plans.
“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,” he added.
Notably, Starc’s biggest aim is to emulate McGrath, who is the only Australian quick to have featured in more than 100 Tests.
“Not just get to 100, I’d like to be good enough to be picked for 100 Tests. And then the big one obviously in a couple of weeks is the World Cup, which in India just goes to another level,” the 33-year-old expressed.
“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,” he added.