Mitchell Starc withdraws from IPL

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc will not return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) following the tournament’s suspension due to a brief but intense military conflict between Pakistan and India, according to Australian media reports.

Starc, who plays for the Delhi Capitals, was involved in a match in Dharamsala that was abandoned amid what officials described as a floodlight failure. The city is located less than 200 kilometers from Jammu, where explosions were reported earlier that day. The stadium was evacuated and players were transported to safety.

Reports indicate Starc has opted out of returning to the IPL, instead choosing to prepare for Australia’s World Test Championship final against South Africa, scheduled for June 11 at Lord’s. There has been no official statement from the Delhi Capitals or the IPL.

The IPL, which is regarded as the world’s richest cricket league, resumes Saturday after being suspended due to four days of cross-border drone, missile, and artillery exchanges between Pakistan and India, which resulted in approximately 70 casualties.

Several other international players may also miss the tournament’s closing stages due to overlapping international commitments. England’s former white-ball captain Jos Buttler will leave Rajasthan Royals before the playoffs to participate in the national team’s ODI series against the West Indies. He will be replaced by Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis.

England’s Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks, representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians respectively, are also expected to depart early, according to the BBC.

Australia’s Pat Cummins and Travis Head are scheduled to return to complete the IPL season, though plans for other Australian players remain uncertain.

Due to the disruption, the IPL playoffs will now begin on May 29, and the final has been rescheduled to June 3. Gujarat Titans currently top the table and are close to securing a place in the playoffs.