Mitchell Starc reflects after his comeback spell (IPL Image)
Australian spearhead Mitchell Starc has made an emphatic return to professional cricket after nearly three months out, producing a performance that instantly silenced any doubts surrounding his fitness and future.After returning from shoulder and elbow injuries, Starc wasted no time making an impact. In his first match, the left-arm quick hit the golden ball, dismissing Yashavi Jaiswal and putting Rajasthan Royals on the back foot early. As the match progressed, the Australian speedster continued to assert his authority. In the 17th over, he removed both Ravindra Jadeja and Ryan Parag, effectively halting any late surge. He finished the match with impressive figures of 3/40, underscoring his value and experience in high-pressure situations.
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Speaking after the match, Starc spoke of his return with a sense of relief and quiet confidence.“It’s good to get some of the cobwebs out, get back to match speed. I think I’ve been good with my legs, but it’s good to get back around the lads, get some practice, and then get the win tonight. So, yeah, it’s good to be back. I’ve been bowling a little bit for weeks, just trying to position my elbow so I can manage the movement,” Starc said during his post-match presentation.
“I haven’t bowled for three months until tonight. So, it’s kind of getting back to that speed pretty quickly. I’ve been playing cricket for a while, so in terms of checking the boxes with the skills, I felt like I was in a position to do most of what I wanted. Tonight was a good reminder of some of the things that make up the game. I think I’ll be better at running the legs for 20 overs, and then now I’ve reached my part of the tournament,” he added.Despite the long layoff, he looked far from rusty. Starc also addressed the visible binding on his legs, which has sparked speculation about his longevity in the game. With his characteristic sense of humor, he dismissed any talk of retirement.“There are two things. I think we’d laugh if you had three things tied up and you were thinking about retirement, but I’m not there yet. But no, it is what it is. It’s the life of cricket and the life of the world. We move on,” he concluded.