Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc made a resounding return to professional cricket after nearly three months on the sidelines, delivering a performance that immediately quashed any concerns about his fitness and future. Returning from shoulder and elbow injuries, the left-arm quick wasted no time making an impact.
Early Breakthrough
In his very first over, Starc struck gold by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal, pushing the Rajasthan Royals onto the back foot early. As the match progressed, the Australian quick continued to assert his authority. In the 17th over, he removed both Ravindra Jadeja and Riyan Parag, effectively shutting down any late surge. He finished with impressive figures of 3/40, underlining his value and experience in high-pressure situations.
Starc Reflects on Comeback
Speaking after the match, Starc reflected on his return with a sense of relief and quiet confidence. "It's nice to get some cobwebs out, get back to the speed of the game. I think I was good to get some running in the legs, but nice to be back around the guys, get some training in, and then obviously get the win tonight. So, yeah, nice to return," Starc said during the post-match presentation.
He added, "I've been bowling a little bit for a period of weeks, just trying to position my elbow so I can manage the movement. I hadn't bowled to a batter for three months until tonight. So, it's sort of getting back to that speed pretty quickly. I was playing cricket for a while, so in terms of ticking the boxes with skills, I felt I was in a position to do most of what I wanted. Tonight was a good reminder of a few things that make the game. I think I'll be better for the run in the legs for 20 overs, and then now I get into my portion of the tournament."
No Retirement Talk
Despite the long layoff, he looked far from rusty. Starc also addressed the visible strapping on his legs, which had sparked speculation about his longevity in the game. With characteristic humour, he dismissed any talk of retirement. "There's a couple of things. I think we'd laugh if you had three things strapped on and were thinking about retirement, but I'm not quite there yet. But no, it is what it is. It's the cricket life and the world's life. We move on," he concluded.
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