Mitchell Starc said he had been “released from his contract” with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

One of the costliest buys in the auction this year, the Australia pacer was forced to miss the entire IPL due to stress fracture in his right leg.

Starc said he was informed of the news via a text message from one of the franchise owners earlier this week. The left-armer may opt out of the upcoming IPL draft, which is set to take place in mid-December, and give himself a period of rest next April ahead of the World Cup and the Ashes.

“I got a text message two days ago from the owners of Kolkata saying I’ve been released from my contract,” Starc told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.

“At the moment, I’ll be home in April. I obviously didn’t go last year with my tibia injury and it was a great opportunity to freshen the body up, let everything heal by itself.

“I guess barring a little niggle in my hammy, I’ve felt pretty good with my body and my strength and the rest of it. That little period of time has really paid off for the body.

“If I don’t play the IPL next year, it’s a good opportunity to freshen up for a massive six months of cricket in the UK.

“At the moment for me, I just want to play as much Test and one-day cricket for Australia as I can. The IPL is a lovely bonus on the pay packet, but if I miss that to play more Test matches, I’m taking that option,” Starc added.

There was no official confirmation regarding this matter from KKR, though. When contacted, one spokesperson of the franchise said: “We have no comments until the 5 pm deadline tomorrow.”

By Thursday evening, the franchises have to submit the list of players they want to release. It was learnt that KKR would be having a meeting in Mumbai on Thursday regarding the players they want to release and retain for the next edition of IPL.

Reigning champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) announced they have retained 22 players for the 2019 season, releasing only three members from the title-winning squad.

CSK, which returned to the IPL fold after serving a two-year suspension, released England pacer Mark Wood, and uncapped Indian players Kanishk Seth and Kshitiz Sharma. England all-rounder David Willey, who was picked as a replacement for the injured Kedar Jadhav, has been retained. Jadhav, however, remains in the squad.

New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner could come back in the squad, sources said.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) bargains with player managers over the balance between international commitments and T20 riches. According to a cricket-specific website, while players complained to the cultural review of CA that they were too often treated as commodities, the market value of Australia’s best fast bowlers is a source of increasing debate.

Starc, who will join Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon in New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield match against Queensland in Canberra from Saturday, admitted that the security of a longer-term CA deal would be attractive.

“As far as I’m aware, everyone’s on one year at the moment (with CA). It’s a bit of a changing time with people at CA and that’s a better question for those behind the scenes with CA with what they want to do with contracting.

“For us we’re not so worried about contracts at the moment, as it’s about performing on the field and that will take care of the rest of it come contract time, whenever that is.

“I’m sure it would (provide security) for a lot of people. It’s probably no different to working life outside of the sporting field.

“When you look at some of the dollars involved in the IPL and some for the T20 leagues around the world, for guys who might be on the fringe or what to concentrate on T20 cricket, it’s very beneficial to play,” the website quoted Starc as saying.

With the Test matches against India being their priority, the key bowlers were kept out of the coming T20Is. 'That was essentially the reason we weren't considered for the T20Is at all, to try and get some red ball cricket ahead of the Tests coming up,' Starc said.

'Whether we play one or two Shield games, it's important we get some good game time with bat and ball against the red one and try to perform coming into that first Test.'