Mitchell Starc KL Rahul for Delhi Capitals. Image Credits: AFP/AP
The Delhi Capitals continue to face uncertainty over Mitchell Starc's availability for IPL 2026. The Australian pacer, who was retained by the franchise for ₹11.75 crore after an impressive IPL 2025 season, has not yet joined the squad and is unlikely to do so before April 20.
Earlier, there were reports that Cricket Australia had delayed granting Mitchell Starc a No Objection Certificate (NOC) due to workload management, further delaying his arrival.
"Cricket Australia is taking a cautious approach with their star multi-format bowlers given what lies ahead: from August, the Test side will play up to 21 matches in a 12-month period, including legacy-defining tours of South Africa, India and England, before defending their ODI World Cup crown in southern Africa in late 2027" statement from Cricket Australia.
Mitchell Starc had cleared his position
Mitchell Starc's absence for the Delhi Capitals has been in the spotlight from the start of IPL 2026. There have been several claims made regarding his delay and his availability for the ongoing season.
However, lately, Mitchell Starc has finally spoken about the matter and taken a clear stand. He shared a story on Instagram and stated that he is dealing with an injury and even criticised the Indian media for spreading fake news about him.
"Despite the opinions and views of certain individuals with their platforms in and through the Indian media, I'm currently rehabbing and managing an injury in my shoulder and elbow, the extent of which I didn't know during the Australian summer. These individuals have made some strong statements around involvement in the IPL and provided heavily misinformed opinions of players, preached them as facts, and claimed to know my body better than me," Starc had written in a statement earlier.
"With that said, I do acknowledge this injury setback and that the timing is disruptive to the Delhi team, and I apologise for that and to the fans for not being available for the early part of this season. I remain committed to joining DC, am in continual communication with the team, and will continue to do what I can to be available for DC as soon as possible," he added.
Mitchell Starc to miss 3 more matches for DC
According to recent reports from TOI, Mitchell Starc is currently in Australia managing shoulder and elbow injuries. With recovery still ongoing, the 36-year-old is expected to miss at least three or more matches for DC.
Also Read: Mitchell Starc Out; Delhi Capitals' Probable Bowling Attack For Initial IPL 2026 Matches
It is important to note that Starc will likely miss Delhi Capitals' next matches against the Gujarat Titans on April 8, followed by the match against CSK on April 11. He might also miss Delhi's match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 18.
How has DC performed so far in IPL 2026?
The Delhi Capitals have made an impressive start to the IPL 2026 season. Under the leadership of Axar Patel, the team has won both of its opening matches and currently sits comfortably in the top half of the points table with four points.
In their first match, DC secured a convincing six-wicket win against the Lucknow Super Giants. In their second match, Delhi continued their winning momentum by defeating the Mumbai Indians by 6 wickets.
It is vital to note that even without their star fast bowler, Starc, the bowling department of the team has performed well. Mukesh Kumar has been very effective in the powerplay, picking up important early wickets. Meanwhile, Lungi Ngidi and T Natarajan have supported him well.
Captain Axar Patel, along with Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam, has also done an excellent job in the middle overs for DC.
However, despite these strong performances, the absence of Starc is still noticeable. As the tournament progresses, his presence could become very important for the Delhi Capitals.
Looking ahead, DC will face the Gujarat Titans in their next match on April 8, 2026, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Also Read: MS Dhoni Ruled Out Of Entire IPL 2026! CSK Teammate From Yesteryears Drops Bombshell
