Mitchell Starc Speaks On His Retirement After First Stint With DC in IPL 2026

Mitchell Starc impressed on his IPL 2026 return with a three-wicket haul while addressing injury concerns and shutting down retirement talks.

Mitchell Starc marked his return for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026 with a strong performance against the Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

The experienced Australian pacer picked up three wickets in his first match of the season, making an immediate impact. However, his heavily strapped bowling arm caught attention, raising questions about his fitness and long-term availability in professional cricket.

Retirement Talk Dismissed After Strong Return

Following the match, Starc addressed speculation around his retirement, making it clear that stepping away from the game is not on his mind at the moment. After spending months recovering from injuries and working on his fitness, the left-arm pacer admitted the comeback phase was challenging but rewarding.

“There are a couple of things. I think we’d laugh if you had three things strapped on and were thinking about retirement, but I’m not quite there yet. But no, it is what it is. It’s the cricket life and the world’s life. We move on,” Mitchell Starc said after the RR vs DC IPL 2026 match.

Key Wickets and Growing Confidence for DC Pacer

Starc made an early statement in the match by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal in the opening over, bouncing back after conceding a boundary. He later added the wickets of Riyan Parag, who scored 90, and Ravindra Jadeja to finish with figures of 3/40 in his four overs.

Reflecting on his return, Starc highlighted the importance of regaining rhythm and match fitness after a long break.

“It’s nice to get some cobwebs out and get back to the speed of the game. I think I was good to get some running in the legs, but nice to be back around the guys, get some training in, and then obviously get the win tonight. So, yeah, nice to return. I’ve been bowling a little bit for a period of weeks, just trying to position my elbow so I can manage the movement,” Starc told the broadcasters after the match,” Starc told the broadcaster.

Having not bowled to a batter for three months, the pacer admitted it took some adjustment but felt satisfied with his execution.

“I hadn’t bowled to a batter for three months until tonight. So, it’s sort of getting back to that speed pretty quickly. I was playing cricket for a while, so in terms of ticking the boxes with skills, I felt I was in a position to do most of what I wanted. Tonight was a good reminder of a few things that make the game. I think I’ll be better for the run in the legs for 20 overs, and then now I get into my portion of the tournament,” he added.

Starc’s IPL Career So Far

Mitchell Starc retired from T20I cricket on September 2, 2025, to prioritise Test cricket and Australia’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. At 35, the left-arm pacer stepped away from the shortest international format after a decorated run, finishing as Australia’s second-highest T20I wicket-taker with 79 wickets in 65 matches.

He featured in five T20 World Cups and was part of the title-winning squad in 2021. Starc made it clear that Test cricket remains his top priority, especially with key assignments like the 2025-26 Ashes on the horizon.

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In the IPL, Starc has enjoyed a high-profile career marked by significant milestones. He first made his mark with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2014 and 2015, picking up 14 and 20 wickets respectively.

He returned in 2024 with Kolkata Knight Riders for a record INR 24.75 crore, playing a crucial role in their title triumph. Ahead of IPL 2025, he joined Delhi Capitals for INR 11.75 crore, taking 14 wickets in 11 matches and continuing as a key figure for the franchise in 2026.