Pro pacer Mitchell Starc discussed why he chose not to play for the Delhi Capitals for the rest of the 2025 Indian Premier League due to tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. Starc stated that his safety took precedence over his participation in the rest of the season up to the WTC Final 2025.
Before the Punjab Kings vs. Delhi Capitals game was stopped in the middle for to security concerns, the left-arm pacer was unsure of the players’ safety. He claimed that he also chose not to compete in the 2025 Champions Trophy for the players’ safety. The left-arm pacer claimed that he concentrated on the WTC Final because he didn’t have enough time to prepare.
“I’m at ease with my choice, my feelings on the entire circumstance, and the way it was resolved. For that reason, I decided to come over here (the UK) and spent a week or so concentrating on red-ball cricket. The Age cited Mitchell Starc as saying, “Only time will tell with consequences or how it looks with guys that didn’t return.”
“However, I had my doubts and worries before that game, and it’s clear that what transpired influenced my choice. There was some element of that in my choice regarding the Champions Trophy (in Pakistan), and after the IPL tournament was postponed, you began to consider how the players would prepare for the Test match,” Mitchell Starc continued.
It was a highly personal choice: Mitchell Starc
The Australian pacer stated that after the PBKS vs DC match was halted, he and Jake Fraser-McGurk decided not to remain in Punjab, while other players were taken to Delhi in a special Vande Bharat Train. He stated that it was a personal choice and that he was prepared to suffer consequences for it.
All of those individuals returned for Punjab, and Jake (Fraser-McGurk) and I decided not go, even though the guys from Dharamsala and Punjab had comparable experiences. “Things were handled differently for different players and different teams.” It was a very personal choice, and I’m content to accept whatever the outcome is,” Mitchell Starc continued.
The renowned pacer affirmed that he had no animosity towards the Capitals and that he had no choice but to play for Australia. The seasoned bowler acknowledged that, save from situations like those that occurred during the IPL 2025, he had never committed to a squad and then quit in the midst.
“I still have a strong commitment to the Delhi group, and I haven’t entered tournaments only to withdraw after winning anything at auction or something similar. “These are distinct situations,” Mitchell Starc continued in his remarks.
Notably, Mitchell Starc was replaced in DC’s lineup for the rest of the competition by Mustafizur Rahman, as the Axar Patel-led team almost missed qualifying for the playoffs.
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