Mitchell Starc on long absence from IPL, T20 leagues: 'Don't regret at all, it helped my Test career'

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Mitchell Starc, who became the costliest ever player in the history of IPL after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bought him for Rs 14.75 crore in the IPL 2023 auction, does not regret his decision to play in cash rich league for eight consecutive seasons.

Starc last played in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2025. He has played 27 IPL matches in the tournament till date and picked 34 wickets at an average of 20.38 and an economy rate of 7.17.

The 33-year-old recently won the World Cup 2023 with Australia in India. He was also part of the Australia Test team which won the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India in June. He won the T20 World Cup 2023 with Australia in 2021. He was also a member of the side which won the 2015 World Cup.

Starc said that his absence from IPL and T20 leagues is not something which he regrets as it has helped him in prolonging his Test career. The left-arm pacer has played 83 Test matches till date and picked 338 wickets at an average of 27.49 and an economy rate of 3.39.

"I made some choices, which I don't regret at all. I think it's probably helped my Test career, so I'm very happy with how it's all gone. Very grateful to have some interest in the auction and excited, thrilled, surprised. There are plenty of words you can describe the night," Starc was quoted as saying on the LiSTNR Sport podcast on YouTube.

Starc was bought by KKR in the IPL 2018 auction for a sum of Rs 9.4 crore. However, he was ruled out due to a right leg injury. The same franchise broke its bank for him and pipped Gujarat Titans (GT) to get his services.