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"My Focus Changed..." Mitchell Starc Breaks Silence On IPL 2025 Withdrawal After Restart

Sakshi Sharma

Mitchell Starc in IPL 2025 (Source: AP)Mitchell Starc in IPL 2025 (Source: AP)

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has finally opened up about his decision to not return to India for the rest of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 after the tournament was briefly suspended due to geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, Starc confirmed that after the Pahalgam terror attack, his personal safety concerns played a significant role in his decision.

It is important to note that the IPL 2025 was halted for a week following the cross-border escalation triggered by the attack. Due to this, many foreign players went back from India to their own countries. Although a ceasefire was later declared, and the tournament resumed shortly after, not all overseas players chose to return.

Among the most notable absentees were Starc and fellow Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk. While many players from both Indian and overseas contingents rejoined their franchises. But on the other hand, Starc chose otherwise, prioritizing personal peace of mind and future commitments.

Starc Explains The Call Of Not Returning For IPL 2025

In the interview, Mitchell Starc stated the complexity of the situation and the risks involved. The ace pacer emphasised that it was ultimately his personal choice. He further added that the experience in Dharamsala when the match was stopped and players had to evacuate mid-game was the turning point for his choice. 

"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," said Starc.

Starc also revealed that he made a similar decision during the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, where matches were hosted in Pakistan and Dubai. While most teams, including Australia, played the majority of their games in Pakistan, Starc did not participate. 

"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.


"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.

Mitchell Starc Eyes On WTC Final

Starc's decision not to return for IPL 2025 also had a strategic element. With the World Test Championship (WTC) Final just around the corner, the left-arm speedster has turned his full attention to red-ball cricket.