Being an Australian fast bowler within Delhi Capitals, Mitchell Starc decided not to go back to India after the turbulent situation peeled between India and Pakistan. This led to the BCCI halting the IPL for a few days for the opportunity of international players to go back home. Upon most players coming back while the league began afresh, Starc did not.
He had been vital for the Capitals in the initial part of the season, and he felt fine about his choice not to return. “I’m good with my decision and how the whole thing was managed,” Starc remarked. The focus I had was on red-ball cricket from the week prior to my landing here. Let’s see what the consequences are for the guys who went back; already I had some doubts before that game, and that whole thing made me cast my vote.
Starc also added that working out ahead of the World Test Championship final against Australia had contributed quite a bit to him staying back. There was some thought about the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Once that got pushed back, I started thinking about how guys need to prepare for the Test match.
Starc’s teammate, Josh Hazlewood, interestingly, headed back to India and played the rest of the season for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who went on to win it all. Two players chose to go their own way. The boys had their experiences in Dharamsala, and while everyone returned for Punjab, Jake Fraser-McGurk and I decided otherwise. Starc added, “It was a personal decision, and I am fine with how it turns out.”
Starc is still committed to the Delhi Capitals. I am fully behind the team–I did not just pull out after getting bought in an auction. It’s different, he remarked. It was mostly about the lack of information to be able to make a call on something like this. I spoke about it back home, made my choice, and am happy to stand by it now.
