Mitchell Starc announces retirement from T20 internationals
Australian speedster Mitchell Starc has called time on his T20 international career with immediate effect. Starc has made the decision in order to focus on his Test and ODI careers. The Aussie quick has ended his T20 international career with 79 wickets in 65 matches, which is the second most by an Australian bowler in the format. Mitchell Starc last featured in a T20I in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.
Australia would have liked to have his services in the 2026 T20 World Cup, scheduled in India and Sri Lanka; however, Starc’s highest priority remains Test cricket and One-Day Internationals.
"Test cricket is and has always been my highest priority," Starc said. "I have loved every minute of every T20 game I have played for Australia, particularly the 2021 World Cup, not just because we won but the incredible group and the fun along the way.
Mitchell Starc’s retirement should allow Australia some time to prepare without him for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The left-handed seamer, though, has not participated in any T20I for Australia since the 2024 T20 World Cup. Starc is looking forward to giving his best in the India tour, the Ashes series, and the ODI World Cup in 2027.
"Looking ahead to an away Indian Test tour, the Ashes and an ODI World Cup in 2027, I feel this is my best way forward to remain fresh, fit and at my best for those campaigns," Starc said. "It also gives the bowling group time to prepare for the T20 World Cup in the matches leading into that tournament."
While Starc has been a beast in ODIs and Test formats, his T20I prowess wasn’t less talked about. His ability to swing the ball at over 145 clicks made him a lethal weapon in the shortest format as well. Australia have won 14 out of 17 T20Is played since the 2024 World Cup without him, yet replacing him for the 2026 T20 World Cup would be a tough ask.
"I'm not sure we're going to find someone swinging the new ball at 145kph an hour," chair of selectors George Bailey said. `
"So it might not necessarily be a like-for-like replacement. Traditionally, he's taken the new ball and been able to bowl some clutch overs at the death at the right time,” he added.
Mitchell Starc in T20 World Cups: A Tale of inconsistency on the biggest stage
Mitchell Starc didn’t enjoy the T20 World Cup 2024 with the ball. He played five matches and picked five wickets at an average of 30.80 and an economy of 8.55. He didn’t play in the Super Eight encounter against Afghanistan, which Australia lost by 21 runs. Starc made his comeback in a must-win encounter against India. The left-arm seamer conceded 29 runs in a single over from Rohit Sharma - his career-worst in T20 internationals.
However, he took his revenge later by casting his stumps. Starc finished his four-over spell with figures of 2 for 45. Australia failed to enter the semi-finals of the tournament. The Super Eight encounter against India in the T20 World Cup 2024 was Mitchell Starc’s last T20I game. Mitchell Starc wasn’t too impressive in the 2022 T20 World Cup either. Australia were eliminated in the Super 12 stage itself due to an inferior net run rate. He played three matches and picked as many wickets at an economy of close to 9.
Mitchell Starc was part of Australia's 2021 T20 World Cup victorious campaign which is a massive cricket update. He picked nine wickets in seven matches but was quite expensive, conceding runs at an economy of close to 10. In the final match against New Zealand, Mitchell Starc conceded 60 runs without a wicket, giving away runs at 15 per over.
Mitchell Starc has been the biggest asset for Australia when it comes to ODI World Cups. However, he couldn’t quite replicate those performances in the T20I tournaments. On 2nd September 2025, he called it quits to his T20I career.
