Mitchell Starc Explains His Absence from IPL 2025 Amid Safety Concerns

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has opened up about his decision to skip the remainder of IPL 2025, citing personal safety concerns amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. In a recent interview, he discussed his stance during the ICC Champions Trophy and the distressing air raid incident in Dharamsala. Starc emphasized that his choice was individual and based on a lack of information regarding safety. Despite his absence, he remains committed to the Delhi Capitals, where he was a standout performer. Read on to discover more about his insights and the implications of his decision.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 6, 2025, 15:03 IST

Starc Discusses His Decision

Mitchell Starc, Australia's leading fast bowler, has finally shared insights into his decision to miss the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. The tournament faced a week-long suspension due to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror incident, but resumed after a ceasefire was established. While other international players returned to complete the league, Starc and his teammate Jake Fraser-McGurk chose not to return.

Personal Safety Concerns

In an interview with a prominent Australian publication, Starc emphasized that his choice was driven by personal safety considerations. He mentioned that he had previously taken a similar stance during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which took place in Pakistan and Dubai. Australia played its matches in Pakistan, except for the semi-final against India, which was held in Dubai.

Starc stated, "I’m comfortable with my decision and how I felt about the whole situation and how it was handled. That’s why I made my decision post-that, and my focus changed to red-ball cricket for about a week prior to coming over here. Time will tell with repercussions or how it looks with guys that didn’t return. But I’ve had my questions and concerns leading into that game, and obviously, we saw what happened, which played a part in my decision."

Concerns During the Champions Trophy

He added, "There was a little bit of that to my decision around the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. And then once the tournament was delayed, you start to think about guys’ preparation for the Test match."

Dharamsala Incident and IPL Suspension

Earlier in the season, the Delhi Capitals faced a distressing situation when their match against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala was interrupted by an air raid alarm. The players endured a lengthy 12-hour journey back to their base, traveling six hours by car and another six by train. Following the IPL suspension, Starc and his wife Alyssa Healy returned home immediately.

Individual Decision

Starc remarked, "Things were handled differently for different players and different teams. The guys up in Dharamsala, the Punjab guys were part of that, and while both teams had similar experiences up there, all those guys returned for Punjab, and Jake Fraser-McGurk and I chose not to. So it was a very individual decision, and I’m happy to live with whatever comes of that."

Commitment to Delhi Capitals

Despite the circumstances, Starc reaffirmed his commitment to the Delhi Capitals, highlighting his strong performance during the season and how much he was missed in the playoffs.

He stated, "I’m still heavily committed to the Delhi group, and I’m not someone that’s gone into tournaments and pulled out after being picked up in an auction or whatever that looks like. These are different circumstances."

Discussion and Decision-Making

Starc concluded, "It was more a question of not having enough information leading into making a decision about things of that degree. I had a discussion back home, then came to a decision, and whatever comes from that, I’m comfortable with that, and we move forward."