Mitchell Starc, the pacer from the famous Australian pace trio, is also likely to miss the first few games in IPL 2026 alongside his two other teammates, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. However, he is neither injured nor has been managing his workload lately.
Overseas players get an insane amount of support, love, and money while playing in the IPL. Aakash Chopra, the former Indian cricketer, has pointed out rightly that the franchises might have to take a call, as they should not let the unnecessary skipping of IPL games slip away easily.
He noted that players are fine to take the pro-rata money for whatever amount of matches they play in the IPL and often do not feature in the full season. He also pointed out that since Indian franchise owners have control over all major leagues in the world, they wouldn’t be fine with the players not being available when it’s time for the marquee league.
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What is Cricket Australia doing? Aakash Chopra bursts out
Former Indian player Aakash Chopra questioned Cricket Australia for unnecessarily prohibiting Mitchell Starc from being available for the first few games in the IPL for the Delhi Capitals. He also pointed out that Starc is neither injured nor has he played a competitive game for the past two months.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra seemed frustrated that Cricket Australia has asked the likes of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and now Mitchell Starc not to play in the initial games of the upcoming IPL season.
“If Mitchell Starc is also not going to come at the start, what is Cricket Australia doing? You didn’t let Josh Hazlewood come, Pat Cummins isn’t coming, and now you have held back Mitchell Starc, even though he is absolutely fit. He has already said goodbye to T20Is. So what has he done in the last two months or so?” he said.
Why are you doing that now? Chopra calls CA’s plan for Mitchell Starc mindless
Aakash Chopra has rightly said that Mitchell Starc has not played a single international game since the Ashes series, which ended in the first week of January. He was last seen playing in the BBL final for the Sydney Sixers.
However, Chopra feels that Cricket Australia are looking forward to managing his workload, as a packed red ball schedule follows the IPL 2026. He also felt that they might be eyeing the series against India in 2027, and preserving Mitchell Starc for a series that is scheduled one year from now seemed lame to the former Indian cricketer.
“He hasn’t played any cricket after the Ashes, but despite that, you have asked him to rest because a big Test season is coming up, in which there are five Test matches against India. That’s just before the next IPL. Why are you doing that now?” he observed.
He is saying he wants to spend some time with the family – Aakash Chopra
In the same video, he pointed out the same type of behaviour from New Zealand cricketer Lockie Ferguson. However, the NZC has nothing to do with his decision to skip the first seven matches of the IPL, as he wishes to spend some time with his family.
I am thinking about Lockie Ferguson, and that’s a serious one. I don’t know whether he has an injury or not, but based on what I have read, he isn’t available for seven matches. He is saying he wants to spend some time with the family,” he said.
Ferguson was part of the ICC T20 World Cup squad for New Zealand and then returned with three more T20I games in New Zealand; hence, before arriving in India for a packed season, he wants some time off with his family.
“He was available at the base price. He was bought for ₹2 crore. He is playing for New Zealand. Then he will go home and spend time with his family. It’s not a bad thing. Don’t judge anyone, but if you are leaving seven matches in the IPL after committing just because of that, then teams will have to realize that this is not right,” Chopra observed.
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