Australia’s star fast bowler Mitchell Starc has praised India’s extraordinary depth of talent, asserting that it is the only nation capable of fielding three distinct teams in different formats simultaneously while remaining competitive.

“I believe they are likely the only country that can have a Test team, a one-day team, and a T20 team all play on the same day against Australia, England, and South Africa respectively, and still be competitive,” Starc shared during a discussion on the YouTube channel ‘FanaticsTV.’

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“No other nation can achieve that,” he added.

Starc also dismissed the notion put forth by his national captain Pat Cummins, who suggested that India gained an advantage by playing all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai. Cummins had remarked that India “benefited from playing all their games there (Dubai).” Starc challenged this perspective, noting that the BCCI prohibits Indian players from participating in overseas leagues, while players globally can compete in any league, thus gaining exposure to various conditions. “I’m not certain that’s an advantage because cricketers worldwide have opportunities to play in numerous franchise leagues, while the Indian players can only participate in the IPL,” Starc stated.

“The IPL is obviously the premier tournament, featuring all Indian players and a wealth of international talent. It’s at the pinnacle of franchise cricket… However, it’s essential to recognize that there are players globally who engage in 5-6 different franchise leagues each year, which gives them broader exposure to the game,” he elaborated.

“The IPL contributes significantly; it’s a remarkable tournament, but one must possess talent as well, and the depth of talent in Indian cricket is immense,” he added.

Starc, who recently missed the ICC Champions Trophy for personal reasons, expressed that while he wasn’t surprised by the Rohit Sharma-led team’s unbeaten journey to victory, he questioned if they could be considered the best white-ball team ever, noting they have yet to clinch an ODI World Cup title.

“I wasn’t surprised that India won. To be honest, I didn’t watch a single ball. I mostly caught bits and pieces of the Australian games. I had the chance to play with (Varun) Chakaravarthy at KKR last season, and he is a tremendous talent with a unique bowling style. Whether they are the best white-ball team ever? Indian fans will say yes, while Australian fans might disagree,” Starc commented.

As the all-time leading wicket-taker in ICC white-ball tournaments, Starc is set to arrive in India this week to join the Delhi Capitals camp in Visakhapatnam ahead of their first match against Lucknow Super Giants on March 24.

The 2025 IPL season begins on March 22, and Starc will be playing for the Delhi Capitals, who secured his services for Rs 11.75 crore in the mega auction last November.

Starc hailed his new Delhi Capitals teammate KL Rahul as India’s ‘Mr. Fix-It,’ praising his ability to perform crucial roles without frequently being in the limelight. He emphasized that while Rahul may not always be the most discussed player, his consistent performances have made a significant impact, particularly in high-stakes tournaments like the Champions Trophy.

Impressed by Rahul’s versatility in adapting to various positions within the Indian team, Starc dubbed him ‘Mr. Fix-It’, highlighting his proficiency in opening the innings, batting in the middle order, keeping wickets, and contributing as a fielder across formats.

“He’s essentially ‘Mr. Fix-It.’ He’s opened the batting when needed, played at No. 6, kept wickets, fielded, and even assisted with drinks. He may not bowl, but aside from that, he’s done just about everything else,” Starc remarked.

This IPL season will mark the first time that Starc and Rahul share the same dressing room, and Starc is eager to observe Rahul’s contributions behind the scenes. “I’ve seen how he operates as an opponent, but I’m excited to be his teammate and learn from him. He has played a pivotal role for India across all three formats, and I look forward to seeing what he brings to the Delhi Capitals setup,” Starc concluded.