Mitchell Starc To Retire Before The 2026 T20 World Cup? Australian Star Drops Huge Update

In a recent podcast, Mitchell Starc was asked whether he would be available for the 2026 T20 World Cup. In reply, the World Cup-winning pacer said that he has not made his decision yet. Star Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has opened up his chances of playing in the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The left-arm pacer was a part of Australia's squad for the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024, held in the USA and the West Indies. Mitchell Starc played in five of Australia's seven games in the competition last month. In those five games, he picked up five wickets, although he could not help Australia qualify for the semifinals.

Mitchell Starc to retire before the 2026 T20 World Cup? Australian star drops huge update

The Australian team management decided not to include Mitchell Starc in the playing XI for the crucial Super 8 clash against Afghanistan. In his absence, Australia suffered a shocking defeat and eventually were knocked out of the tournament. The experienced fast bowler will be nearly 37 years old when the next T20 World Cup takes place in 2026. He was recently asked whether he would be available for the tournament or not. In reply, the 2023 World Cup-winning pacer stated that he has not yet made his decision.

"I don't know, probably I'll sit on the fence on that. I have not made my decision yet," said Mitchell Starch on the Willow Talk podcast.

During the same podcast, Mitchell Starc also opened up about why he was dropped for Australia's game against Afghanistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup. On that occasion, Kane Richardson was preferred ahead of him. Richardson conceded 48 runs in 4 overs, but Australia won by four runs. However, they failed to reach the finishing line in the T20 World Cup 2024, which resulted in them not making it to the semifinals.

"Two World Cups in a row. Just the match-up, they saw previous games on that ground in St Vincent with spin playing a part and obviously Ash and the left-armer enticing them to make a change," Starc added.

Mitchell Starc, who made his debut for Australia in 2010, has played 65 T20Is and has taken 79 wickets. He was also part of the Australian team that won the T20 World Cup in 2021. Before this year's World Cup, he had also played a leading role in Kolkata Knight Riders' victorious campaign in IPL 2024. With plenty of time remaining before the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, it will be interesting to see the decision made by the Australian management.