Australia's pace leader and one of the world's most feared bowler, Mitchell Starc has called time on his international T20 career ahead of the T20 World Cup, which is set to take place next year.
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The fast bowler hasn't featured in a T20I since Australia's exit from the T20 World Cup in 2024. He will now focus on the other two formats of the game, with Test cricket being his priority.
Why did Mitchell Starc retire from T20I cricket?
Starc has been one of the most prolific T20I bowlers for his side. The 35-year-old bows out of the format with a total of 79 wickets from 65 games in the shortest format: the most by an Australian pacer. Only Adam Zampa is above Starc on the wicket-takers list.
"Test cricket is and has always been my highest priority," Starc said in a statement. "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."
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The highlight of Starc's T20I career came in 2021, when Australia lifted the T20 World Cup in Dubai.
Starc's T20I career:
| Matches | Innings | Balls | Wickets | Average | Economy | SR | BBI |
| 65 | 65 | 1458 | 79 | 23.81 | 7.74 | 18.4 | 4/20 |
The pacer will continue to play a major role for the Aussies in the other two formats of the game. He will also be available for the domestic T20 leagues, where the fans will be able to watch him in the shorter format.
What's next for Mitchell Starc?
Having retired from the shortest format, the Aussie pacer will now have an eye on some of the major events lined up in the longer formats, with the biggest assignment being the ICC Men's ODI Cricket 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," added Starc
Starc's next big series will be the ODIs against India in October, followed by the all-important Ashes against England. He will also be focused on winning an away Test series in India, which has been one of Australia's long-standing dreams.
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Australia's great off-spinner Nathan Lyon has earlier mentioned that winning a Test series in India would be a career-defining moment, and he wants to achieve it before he retires from international cricket.