Retirement season rolls on: Mitchell Starc steps away from T20Is

SYDNEY: One of Australia’s greatest modern-day fast bowlers, Mitchell Starc, has officially stepped away from T20 Internationals, announcing his retirement from the shortest format to concentrate on red-ball cricket and the build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Starc, 35, ends his T20I career with 65 caps and 79 wickets, leaving behind a legacy built on blistering pace, deadly yorkers, and big-match pedigree. The left-armer was a key part of Australia’s victorious 2021 T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE and made his final T20I appearance at the 2024 World Cup in the Caribbean.

However, now he wants to chase test cricket and world cup glory and he has his priorities right. According to media reports, Starc’s statement of retirement said, “Test cricket is and has always been my highest priority. I’ve loved every minute in the T20 setup, especially the 2021 World Cup, not just for the win, but for the memories and the group we had.”

Also read: Last over magician batsman Asif Ali bids farewell to international cricket

STRATEGIC CALL? WORLD CUP GLORY!

With a hectic stretch of Test cricket looming from mid-2026, including tours of South Africa and India, a four-Test showdown with New Zealand, and the historic 150th anniversary Test against England, Starc is plotting a clear path toward the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

“Looking ahead to India, the Ashes, and the ODI World Cup in 2027, I feel this is the best way to stay fresh, fit and firing,” he said.

The timing of Starc’s departure also gives Australia’s white-ball pace attack a chance to evolve ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

NEVERTHELESS A GAP WILL EXIST

Starc’s ability to swing the new ball at high pace and land searing yorkers at the death won’t be easily replaced.

ESPN Cricinfo quoted chair of selectors George Bailey saying, “I’m not sure we’re going to find someone swinging it at 145kph… But we’re seeing guys like Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott and Xavier Bartlett step up. Starcy’s a rare talent, so it might be more about adjusting roles than replacing him like-for-like.”

MITCHELL STARC’S T20I CAREER AT A GLANCE:

• Matches: 65
• Wickets: 79 (2nd all-time for Australia)
• Best Figures: 4/20 vs West Indies, 2022
• Debut: 2012
• T20 World Cup Titles: 1 (2021)

Also read: Glenn Maxwell retires from ODI format

After more than a decade of T20 thrills, Starc now shifts his focus to the game’s longer battles and he’s not done with delivering match-winning spells just yet.