IPL 2020: Mitchell Starc holds no regret for opting out of the league's 13th edition

Starc hadn't put his name up for auction last year expecting excessive workload in normal circumstances.

Australian and English players will have a quick turnaround from their limited-overs series in the UK to the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in UAE this September. Aussie left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, however, won't be one of them, having decided not to put his hat in the ring at the auction last year. 

But the decision was taken fearing for the physical and mental fatigue in normal circumstances, with no Coronavirus pandemic at the time threatening to bring all sporting activities to an abrupt halt or forcing Starc and the rest of his teammates to be confined to their homes.  

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Starc, though, doesn't regret his move still, even as the stage is now set for the IPL 2020 to kickstart in UAE from September 19. 

"I know hindsight is a wonderful thing and now the IPL is on at a different time but no, I wouldn't change it," he told cricket.com.au. 

"I'm happy to spend that time when the blokes are at the IPL in September I'll be getting ready for the summer."

"The IPL will be around next year and if I feel the urge or people want me around I'll definitely consider it, but as of this year I'm very comfortable with the decisions I've made," Starc added. 

While Australian players have been training for the tussle with the last year's 50-over World Cup champions, the tour still faces hurdles in the form of necessary approvals from the government and health authorities that Cricket Australia (CA) has been regularly communicating with amid the viral outbreak. 

Greater clarity is expected on the trip when on Thursday (August 6) CA, team management, the players and the support staff talk via a scheduled teleconference. 

"It (tour) is still very much up in the air which is the way of the world at the moment. It's changing day by day," said Starc. "We're having weekly meetings about the challenges of the tour and where this all sits."

"We've got another one on Thursday to see if there's any progressions on that. All the players are preparing to play and planning to go. It's now up to Cricket Australia and the government on both sides as to whether we jump on that plane. In terms of the cricket, we'll just get ready for the series," he concluded.