• Source:JND
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Australian speedster is planning to make a return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2024 after a long hiatus. Notably, Starc last played in the IPL back in 2015 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Despite being recognized as one of the premier bowlers in white-ball cricket and having topped the wicket charts in the last two editions of the ODI World Cup, Starc has opted to stay away from the IPL for several years. He participated in the IPL only during the 2014 and 2015 seasons but is now planning to re-enter the IPL by participating in the auction for the 2024 season.

Starc's decision to avoid the IPL in recent years has been influenced by his desire to spend more time with his family and to stay fresh amid a demanding international cricket schedule. In 2018, he was initially bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders but had to withdraw due to injury. He also skipped the 2019 IPL season because of the impending ODI World Cup. Additionally, his commitments to the World Test Championship Final and the Ashes in 2021 led him to continue his break from the IPL.

However, the 33-year-old is eyeing the upcoming edition of the IPL as a preparatory tool for the T20 World Cup 2024 scheduled to be played in June.

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"I'm definitely going back in (next) year," Starc told the Willow Talk cricket podcast. "Amongst other things, it's a great lead up to the T20 World Cup. So a good opportunity to see if anyone's interested in the IPL, then lead into the T20 World Cup. And it's somewhat of a quiet winter next year ... in comparison to this winter, so I think a perfect opportunity to put my name in."

Starc has also expressed his desire to play 100 Tests for Australia and has hinted that he is unsure of his future in the ODI format post the World Cup. "It took me a long time to feel like I was good enough Test cricket," he said. "So I want to really give that the biggest crack I've got. I've thoroughly enjoyed white-ball cricket and that's probably where I got my main opportunities in as well. I'd like to be good enough to get to 100 Tests. Not just get to 100, I'd like to be good enough to be picked for 100 Tests.

"And then you look at the one-day format, it's sort of four years in between World Cups, so where do I see myself in that mix? But I've got to get to the end of this World Cup first. But we've got some superstars coming through. You've got your Jhye Richardsons, your Sean Abbotts, your Spencer Johnsons. You've got plenty of young guys coming through. (Lance) Morris is going to be a gun. I try not to look too far ahead with anything. Obviously, we want to do well in the World Cup. Then we've got five Test matches here in Australia and then I haven't actually played a Test in New Zealand, so hopefully I'm on that tour and look forward to that challenge as well."