IPL 2026: 'He is absolutely fit'- Chopra slams Cricket Australia over Starc absence
Aakash Chopra questions Cricket Australia's decision to rest a fit Mitchell Starc for early IPL 2026 matches, citing workload management ahead of a Test series. He also expresses concern over Lockie Ferguson's potential absence for seven games to spend time with family, suggesting franchises may need to re-evaluate player commitments.
Aakash Chopra has raised concerns over Cricket Australia’s reported decision to delay Mitchell Starc’s availability for IPL 2026, questioning the logic behind resting a fully fit player. Starc, who was expected to spearhead the bowling attack for Delhi Capitals, is likely to miss the initial matches due to workload management despite not playing any competitive cricket for nearly two months. In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra expressed his confusion over the move, especially with other Australian quicks like Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins already sidelined due to injuries.
"If Mitchell Starc is also not going to come at the start, what is Cricket Australia doing? You didn't let Josh Hazlewood come, Pat Cummins isn't coming, and now you have held back Mitchell Starc, even though he is absolutely fit. He has already said goodbye to T20Is.
So what has he done in the last two months or so? " he said. Chopra pointed out that Starc has not featured in any matches since the 2025–26 Ashes and questioned the need to preserve him so early for the upcoming five-Test series against India.
"He hasn't played any cricket after the Ashes, but despite that, you have asked him to rest because a big Test season is coming up, in which there are five Test matches against India. That's just before the next IPL. Why are you doing that now?