Australia fast-bowler Mitchell Starc hinted at his potential ODI retirement after winning the IPL trophy with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The left-arm pacer mentioned that with a significant gap before the next one-day World Cup, he might shift his focus to franchise cricket around the world.

Mitchell Starc “There is an Impact Player Rule here and not in the T20 World Cup,You cannot put your batting all-rounder at number 8,like you do in the IPL,you will see these kinds of high scores in the T20 WC,purely because there will be one less batter”pic.twitter.com/9j6MPXJJ90

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— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) May 27, 2024

‘One Format May Drop Off’ For Mitchell Starc

Starc’s return to the IPL has been remarkable, culminating in a title win with KKR. After prioritizing international cricket for many years, his decision to rejoin the lucrative league proved beneficial, leading him to consider changing his cricketing commitments and possibly stepping away from ODIs.

“The last nine years, I’ve prioritised Australian cricket. I have given myself a chance to give my body a break and spend some time away from cricket with my wife as well, so that’s certainly been where my head’s been for the last nine years,” Starc said at a press conference.

“Moving forward… look, I am certainly closer to the end of my career than the start. One format may drop off. There is long time before the next one-day World Cup and whether that format continues for me or not… it may open doors for more franchise cricket.” he added.

Starc, who had avoided the IPL during his peak years to concentrate on national duties and manage his workload, shared his thoughts on this shift at a press conference following KKR’s decisive victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2024 final. KKR clinched their third IPL title, with Starc playing a crucial role.

If Starc decides to drop ODIs from his schedule, it could lead to more appearances in franchise cricket, including the IPL. Despite being the most expensive player in IPL auction history, bought for Rs. 24.75 crore by KKR, Starc had a challenging start to the season, conceding 100 runs in his first two games without taking a wicket. However, his performance improved dramatically as the tournament progressed.

Starc’s match-winning figures of 3-34 in Qualifier 1 and 2-14 in the final against SRH highlighted his ability to deliver under pressure. His efforts were key to KKR’s dominant campaign, culminating in a resounding victory in the final.

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