Mitchell Starc forced to issue personal statement after IPL absence criticised in India

Mitchell Starc has been forced to issue a statement clarifying his status for the Indian Premier League after “heavily misinformed opinions” from “certain individuals” in the country.

The Australian cricket great has not played anywhere since the Big Bash final on January 25, which came at the end of a gruelling Ashes summer.

He was this week ruled out of the start of the IPL season alongside Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

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But the latter pair are in India and training with their respective teams — while uncertainty around Starc’s availability in particular led to prominent commentator Harsha Bhogle questioning whether stars could cop financial sanctions for missing matches.

“I see the coach of Delhi Capitals saying they are waiting to hear about Starc’s availability,” Bhogle wrote on Monday.

“That is disappointing because this is a very high-profile league with huge budgets and teams have a right to plan, to know what they are buying.

“The international calendar is known in advance and players and boards should be able to give guarantees unless there are unforeseen injuries or political developments. I foresee amounts deducted from contracts being greater than a per match value assigned.”

Aakash Chopra also questioned Cricket Australia for holding back Starc, claiming the bowler is “absolutely fit” simply because he has had time off.

“So what has he done in the last two months or so?” Chopra said.

Starc initially stayed quiet but has now revealed he is in rehab, while calling out his critics.

“Despite the opinions and views of certain individuals with their platforms in and through the Indian media, I’m currently rehabbing and managing an injury in my shoulder and elbow of which I didn’t know the extent of during the Australian summer,” Starc wrote.

“These individuals have made some strong statements around involvement in the IPL and provided heavily misinformed opinions of players, preached them as facts, and claim to know my body better than me.

“With that said I do acknowledge this injury setback and timing is disruptive to the Delhi team and I apologise for that and to the fans for not being available for the early part of this season.

“I remain committed to join DC, are in continual communication updating the team and will continue to do what I can to be available for DC as soon as possible.”

Starc played out the Big Bash season after suffering a shoulder scare in the finals series.

He did not appear in the T20 World Cup in February and March after retiring from the international format late last year.

Cummins issued a brief update on Instagram over the weekend as the IPL got underway.

“Putting the pieces together,” he wrote.

“Getting closer to 100 per cent, can’t wait for the season ahead.”

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