Mitchell Starc considers stepping away from ODIs to focus on franchise cricket

Australian cricketer, Mitchell Starc has reflected on his career trajectory and hinted at potentially retiring from One Day Internationals (ODIs).

In a press conference, following Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2024 final, Starc shared his thoughts on his future in the sport.

"The last nine years, I've prioritised Australian cricket. I have given myself a chance to give my body a break and spend some time away from cricket with my wife as well, so that's certainly been where my head's been for the last nine years," Starc said.

As Starc approaches the twilight of his career, he is contemplating reducing his workload by dropping one format. With a considerable gap until the next ODI World Cup, Starc suggested that ODIs might be the format he phases out. 

"Moving forward… look, I am certainly closer to the end of my career than the start. One format may drop off. There is long time before the next one-day World Cup and whether that format continues for me or not… it may open doors for more franchise cricket," he further added.

Lastly, Starc highlighted his extensive cricket experience and the challenge of regaining T20 rhythm to outsmart batters.

"I've played a lot of cricket and know how to manage myself. I haven't played much T20 cricket recently, so it was about finding that rhythm and staying ahead of the batters," he concluded.