IPL 2024: Former RCB Pacer Mitchell Starc Eyes Indian Premier League Return After 9 Years

Source: Twitter

Australia pacer has confirmed he can return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the 2024 edition next time. The Aussie fast-bowler will play in the IPL for the first time after 2015 if he gets picked by a team this time. He has previously played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2014 and 2015 season. He took 34 wickets for RCB in 27 matches he played.

Back in 2018, he was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) before he withdrew due to injury and on other occasions, he prioritised international cricket over IPL. However, the next year is comparatively light for Australia. There is a T20 World Cup scheduled between a tour of New Zealand in March and a white-ball series against Afghanistan, Ireland and England from late August. (Rajasthan Royals Eyeing To Take Over Yorkshire County Cricket Club - Report)

"Look it's been eight years. I'm definitely going back in [next] year," Starc told the Willow Talk Cricket Podcast about his IPL ambitions as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

"Amongst other things, it's a great lead-up to the T20 World Cup," he added. 

Always a fan of Mitchell starc #IPL2024 #IPL

https://t.co/N9Pq2W7Z5b —  (@Nobiiiiie_Rana) September 7, 2023

"So a good opportunity to see if anyone's interested in the IPL, then lead into the T20 World Cup. And it is somewhat of a quiet winter next year…in comparison to this winter, so I think a perfect opportunity to put my name in," he concluded. 

One of the major reasons why he has not played IPL for so long is that he wants to stay available for Test cricket. He would like to reach a century of matches in format, something which pacer Glenn McGrath has done in the past and remains the only pacer in Australia to do so. 

He currently has played 82 Tests and if he manages to play Australia's upcoming fixtures of the Future Tours Programme, his 100th match will be during the 2025-26 Ashes. 

"Not just get to 100, I would 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," he said. 

"And then you look at the one-day format, it is sort of four years in between World Cups, so where do I see myself in that mix? But I have got to get to the end of this World Cup first."

"But we have got some superstars coming through. You have got your Jhye Richardsons, your Sean Abbotts, your Spencer Johnsons. You have 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 have got five Test matches here in Australia and then I haven't actually played a Test in New Zealand, so hopefully I am on that tour and look forward to that challenge as well," he concluded. (With ANI inputs)