Mitchell Starc’s long wait to get onto the field has finally ended, giving Delhi Capitals a timely lift ahead of the business end of the IPL 2026 season. The Australia speedster, retained by the franchise for ₹11.75 crore, has not yet featured this year due to elbow and shoulder problems—but Cricket Australia has now cleared him to resume playing, setting up his delayed link-up with Delhi.
Starc’s IPL 2026 delay and what it means for Delhi Capitals
Delhi’s start to the campaign has been mixed so far, with three wins and three defeats. The bigger concern for the franchise hasn’t been the bowling department; instead, it has been the batting and fielding that have largely undermined their efforts. With Starc’s return, Delhi can add a bowler with match-shaping impact, and the franchise will hope his reintroduction steadies their performances in the coming rounds.
- Mitchell Starc was retained for ₹11.75 crore for IPL 2026.
- He has yet to play a match this season because of elbow and shoulder injuries.
- Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2026 record stands at three wins and three losses so far.
- The issues have mainly been linked to batting and fielding rather than bowling.
Cricket Australia clearance: injury updates and expected debut
Cricket Australia’s statement on Thursday confirmed that Starc has been cleared to return to action and will travel to India for a late arrival with Delhi Capitals for the Indian Premier League. The injuries were picked up during the Australian summer, a period in which Starc played all five Tests in a player-of-the-series showing during Australia’s 4-1 Ashes triumph before going on to represent the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash.
According to the update, Starc is expected to build up his workload on the ground in India. He is on track to make his IPL 2026 debut in Delhi’s match scheduled for May 1 against Rajasthan Royals. After that, he should be available for the Capitals’ remaining league fixtures as well as any later playoff run, giving the team a significant boost for the stretch that matters most.
- Starc has been cleared by Cricket Australia to resume playing.
- He will travel to India for a belated joining with Delhi Capitals for the IPL.
- His elbow and shoulder injuries were sustained during the Australian summer.
- He played all five Tests in Australia’s 4-1 Ashes win and produced a player-of-the-series performance.
- He then played for Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash.
- He is expected to increase workload in India before returning to the XI.
- Starc is targeted to debut in Delhi’s May 1 match versus Rajasthan Royals.
- He should be available for the rest of Delhi’s regular season matches and any subsequent finals campaign.
Gavaskar and IPL injury debate: Starc’s response to criticism
Starc’s absence has also fed into a broader controversy around foreign players and injury timing. Over recent weeks, he and other Australian players with similar situations have faced harsh criticism from sections of the Indian media, where the number of former cricketers with prominent platforms has grown. Sunil Gavaskar, in particular, has been especially sharp in his criticism of overseas players who were unable to represent their franchises during the opening phase due to injuries.
Last month, as the scrutiny intensified, Starc felt compelled to answer the public criticism. Taking to Instagram, he said that while various individuals had expressed opinions through their media platforms, he was still rehabbing and managing an injury in his shoulder and elbow—an injury he claimed he did not know the full extent of during the Australian summer.
Starc also accused those commentators of making statements about the IPL based on misinformation, claiming they presented assumptions as facts and suggested they knew his body better than he did. He acknowledged that the injury setback and the timing were disruptive to Delhi, and he offered an apology to both the team and the fans for not being available during the early part of the season.
Concluding his message, Starc reiterated his commitment to joining Delhi Capitals, said he would remain in ongoing communication with the franchise, and added that he would continue doing everything possible to be available for Delhi as soon as he could.
- Starc and other overseas players with similar injury issues were criticised by parts of the Indian media.
- Sunil Gavaskar was singled out for particularly cutting remarks about foreign players missing early matches due to injuries.
- Starc responded after the criticism intensified in the lead-up to his return.
- He said he was rehabbing and managing shoulder and elbow injuries, with the extent not fully known during the Australian summer.
- He criticised certain individuals for making claims about IPL involvement based on misinformed opinions.
- He acknowledged the injury setback and timing were disruptive to Delhi.
- He apologised to the franchise and fans for missing the early part of the season.
- He stated he remains committed to joining Delhi Capitals and is in continual communication with the team.
- He added that he would continue working to be available for Delhi Capitals as soon as possible.
