Pacer Mitchell Starc of the famous Australian pace trio is also likely to miss the first few matches of IPL 2026 along with his two other teammates, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. However, he has neither been injured nor managing his workload recently.
Foreign players get a lot of support, love and money while playing in IPL. Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has rightly said that the franchises will have to take a decision as they should not be given the liberty to skip IPL games unnecessarily.
He said it is okay for players to take a proportionate amount for the number of matches they play in the IPL and often do not attend the entire season. He also pointed out that since Indian franchise owners have control over all the major leagues in the world, they would not mind players not being available when it is time for the marquee league.
What is Cricket Australia doing? Aakash Chopra started crying bitterly
Former Indian player Aakash Chopra questioned Cricket Australia for unnecessarily restricting Mitchell Starc from being available for the first few matches for Delhi Capitals in the IPL. He also informed that Starc is neither injured nor has he played any competitive game in the last two months.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra looked disappointed that Cricket Australia has asked Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and now Mitchell Starc not to play in the opening matches of the upcoming IPL season.
“If even Mitchell Starc is not going to start, then what is Cricket Australia doing? You have not allowed Josh Hazlewood to come, Pat Cummins is not coming and now you have stopped Mitchell Starc even though he is absolutely fit. He has already retired from T20. So what has he done in the last two months?” He said.
Why are you doing this now? Chopra calls CA’s plan for Mitchell Starc unwise
Aakash Chopra has rightly said that Mitchell Starc has not played a single international match since the Ashes series that ended in the first week of January. He was last seen playing for Sydney Sixers in the BBL final.
However, Chopra feels that Cricket Australia is looking forward to managing his workload as there is a jam-packed red-ball schedule after IPL 2026. They also felt that they could be eyeing the series against India in 2027, and preserving Mitchell Starc for the series taking place a year from now seemed a waste for the former Indian cricketer.
“He has not played any cricket after the Ashes, but despite this, you have asked him to rest because there is a big Test season coming up, with five Test matches against India. It is just before the next IPL. Why are you doing this now?” He observed.
He is saying that he wants to spend some time with family – Aakash Chopra
In the same video, he pointed towards similar behavior of New Zealand cricketer Lockie Ferguson. However, NZC has nothing to do with his decision to skip the first seven matches of the IPL, as he wants to spend some time with his family.
I’m thinking about Lockie Ferguson and it’s a serious matter. I don’t know if he is injured or not, but from what I have read, he is not available for seven matches. He’s saying he wants to spend some time with his family.”
Ferguson was part of the ICC T20 World Cup squad for New Zealand and then returned with three more T20I games in New Zealand; So, before reaching India for the busy season, he wants some time off with his family.
Chopra said, “He was available at the base price. He was bought for â‚ą2 crore. He is playing for New Zealand. Then he will go home and spend time with his family. It is not a bad thing. Don’t judge anyone, but if you are giving up seven matches in the IPL just because you have committed, then teams have to realize that is not right.”
Also read: “Their biggest problem”: Former PBKS all-rounder reveals the big truth about KKR ahead of IPL 2026
