Delhi Capitals are facing a major concern ahead of the next phase of their IPL 2026 run, with Mitchell Starc looking set to stay sidelined for a further stretch. Led by Axar Patel, the franchise has nevertheless started the campaign on a solid footing, collecting victories in their first two matches—first against Lucknow Super Giants and then against Mumbai Indians. Yet Starc has not been part of the playing group so far, leaving the new-ball responsibilities primarily to Mukesh Kumar and T Natarajan as the team builds its bowling combinations without their headline pacer.
With Starc still working through injury recovery, the expectation is that he will miss at least three more fixtures for Delhi. The Australian fast bowler is reported to be managing shoulder and elbow problems, and is not expected to be available for the side until after April 20. That timeline means Delhi will prepare for a tough run of games in his absence, beginning with a clash against Gujarat Titans on April 8, followed by matches against Chennai Super Kings on April 11 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 18.
Even without Starc in the squad, Delhi’s bowling unit—anchored by Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, T Natarajan and Kuldeep Yadav—looks structurally balanced on paper. Still, the arrival of Starc would add another level of threat, given his track record and ability to make breakthroughs at crucial moments, something Delhi will be keen to restore once he regains full fitness.
Starc also addressed the chatter surrounding his delayed presence in IPL 2026, pushing back against criticism by stating that his late start was tied to managing injuries rather than any lack of commitment. In his statement, the pacer said he has been rehabilitating and overseeing an injury in his shoulder and elbow, which he described as something he did not fully understand in terms of severity during the Australian summer. He further took aim at public commentary, claiming that certain voices in Indian media have offered comments about his IPL involvement that he believes are based on misinformation, and that those claims have been presented as fact while also suggesting those critics know his body better than he does.
The 36-year-old, who finished the previous IPL season with 14 wickets, also referred to apologising to the franchise for missing the early part of this year’s league. He reiterated his dedication to Delhi, adding that the team had invested Rs 11.75 crore in the 2025 auction to secure his services. Starc acknowledged that the injury setback and the timing have been disruptive for the Delhi setup, and he extended an apology both to the fans and to the franchise for not being available during the opening stages of the competition.
