Australian seamer Starc opts out of IPL 2017

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Bangalore : In a huge blow to Royal Challengers Bangalore, Australian left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc has pulled out of the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. The Australian fast bowler, will be playing gruelling cricket in India and need some time to recover well for the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in June.

 With this decision, the 27-year-old will foresake Rs 5 crore that he was supposed to bag for turning out for IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during the coming season.

Starc, one of the world's premier fast bowlers, had also missed the 2016 IPL edition due to injury.

"At this point in time after a long summer and with a big tour of India still ahead, I think it is in my best interests, both physically and mentally, for me to have a break, spend time with my family and take the opportunity to work on getting back to full fitness," Starc said.

Now, in the absence of Starc, the city-based franchise of the richest Twenty20 cricket league will go into Monday's IPL Players auction with an additional purse of Rs 5 Crore and an additional slot for an overseas player. RCB have a purse of a total of Rs 17.825 crore to buy players.