Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc said a sore ankle and his "personal views" were behind his decision to pull out of the Champions Trophy. Starc was included in Australia's squad but withdrew before the ODI tournament started,

Australia entered the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 without several key players. Mitchell Starc was the latest to join the absentees list, which includes Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, and the retired Marcus Stoinis, just weeks before the tournament began.

Mitchell Starc has revealed that an ankle injury was the major reason for him missing the Champions Trophy but that "personal views" also played a part in him withdrawing from the tournament. Starc joined Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in being absent from the event meaning Australia are without their big three fast bowlers leaving an inexperienced pace attack but a win against Afghanistan on Friday will put them in the semi-finals.