Mitchell Starc Breaks Silence on Skipping IPL 2025: ‘No Regrets….’

June 6, 2025: Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has finally addressed his decision to skip the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 after the tournament was temporarily halted due to rising cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. Starc, who was representing Delhi Capitals, chose not to return to India once the league resumed on May 17—following a week-long suspension triggered by a serious security scare in Dharamshala.

The incident on May 8, during a match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, saw panic erupt after a blackout occurred amid fears of Pakistani drone intrusions. The Indian Air Defence Forces swiftly neutralized the threat, but not before the match was suspended and players, support staff, and fans were evacuated to New Delhi for safety.

Starc, along with his wife—who was present at the venue—returned to Sydney shortly after. When the league resumed post-ceasefire, both Starc and fellow Australian teammate Jake Fraser-McGurk were notably absent from Delhi Capitals’ lineup.

Speaking to The Age from London ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa, Starc explained that his decision was made out of personal concern for safety and a desire to stay focused on his red-ball preparations.

“I’m comfortable with my decision and how I felt about the whole situation and how it was handled,” Starc said. “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.”

The 35-year-old acknowledged that while all Punjab Kings players returned, he and Fraser-McGurk chose not to, calling it a “very individual decision.”

“Time will tell with repercussions or how it looks with guys that didn’t return… I’m happy to live with whatever comes of that,” he added.

Starc’s absence proved costly for Delhi Capitals, who ended another season without making it past the league stages. Despite the team’s struggles, Starc had been a standout performer—picking up 14 wickets in 11 games and playing a key role with the ball during the powerplay and death overs.

While the long-term implications of his decision remain to be seen—whether in terms of IPL contract retention or future team preferences—Starc appears resolute in having made the right call for himself and his family.

With the WTC Final around the corner, Starc’s attention is now firmly on red-ball cricket, leaving behind the stormy IPL season with calm resolve.