Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has been given the green light to travel for IPL 2026 after working through shoulder and elbow problems, and he is eyeing a return for Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of their clash with Rajasthan Royals (RR) on May 1.
Starc, who is 36, hasn’t taken part in any cricket since late January. His most recent heavy stretch came during the Ashes, where he finished as Player of the Series after claiming 31 wickets at 19.93, and he bowled 153.1 overs across the five Tests. He then featured in five BBL games for Sydney Sixers in late January, reaching the final, before a fielding moment changed his trajectory.
During one of those Sixers matches against Perth Scorchers, Starc dived for a catch and landed awkwardly on his left shoulder and elbow. After a break in February, he attempted to resume bowling, but soreness lingered and that setback pushed back his timeline for arriving in the IPL.
Quick scan
- Mitchell Starc has been cleared to travel for IPL 2026 after shoulder and elbow issues.
- He is targeting availability for Delhi Capitals’ match vs Rajasthan Royals on May 1.
- Starc last played in late January; he was Player of the Series in the Ashes with 31 wickets at 19.93.
- He was injured in the BBL while fielding against Perth Scorchers, landing on his left shoulder and elbow.
- He faced delays due to soreness after returning to bowl in February.
- There was early confusion about his absence from India; he voiced frustration at “heavily misinformed opinions”.
- He has had a week of pain-free bowling at home in Sydney and is expected to fly to India on Friday.
- Starc should be available for the May 1 game in Jaipur if no setbacks occur, and then for the rest of the season.
Early on, there was confusion about why Starc wasn’t in India for the start of the competition. Starc responded by explaining the injury situation publicly and showing visible frustration at what he called “heavily misinformed opinions” surrounding his unavailability.
With his recovery progressing, it is understood Starc has enjoyed a productive week of pain-free bowling back home in Sydney. He is due to depart for India on Friday, but he will still need time for acclimatisation and to build up his bowling workload before he is likely ready for the May 1 match in Jaipur. Provided there are no fresh issues, he should be in the frame for the remainder of the IPL campaign.
Another pace return: Cummins
The update also arrives as Pat Cummins—Australia’s Test and ODI captain—looks set to play his first IPL game of the season for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday, with that fixture again taking place in Jaipur against RR. Cummins hasn’t been involved in any cricket since mid-December, when he played his only Ashes Test.
That Ashes match is also the only game he has appeared in since early July 2025, after a lumbar stress injury in his lower back kept him sidelined. With Starc, Cummins and Josh Hazlewood all trending toward full fitness, Cricket Australia will be breathing easier as they manage their key quicks.
The concern has been understandable: Australia are preparing for an unusually demanding international stretch over the next 18 months. The schedule includes 20 Tests, with a possible 21st if they reach the WTC final next June, running from August 2026 to August 2027, followed by the ODI World Cup in October–November 2027.
