Jaipur is set for a blockbuster on Friday in IPL 2026, with Mitchell Starc stepping back into action for the Delhi Capitals. The left-armer’s return comes with a fascinating early battle against teen opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the Capitals take on the Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Rajasthan skipper Riyan Parag won the toss and chose to bat first, pointing to the way the wicket was behaving. He felt it was not the usual Jaipur surface, noting that it looked a touch dry and had played quicker earlier, with an expectation that the pitch may slow down later.
Quick facts
- Match: Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals (IPL 2026)
- Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Rajasthan captain Riyan Parag won the toss and elected to bat
- Mitchell Starc makes his season debut for Delhi Capitals
- Delhi named three changes: Starc in, Chameera out; Pathum Nissanka in; David Miller omitted; Ashok Sharma included
- RR XI includes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Shubham Dubey
Parag’s thinking was clear: start with a batting approach suited to early pace, then aim to benefit later if the wicket eases. He also referenced Rajasthan’s previous chase vs Punjab Kings, saying the middle and lower order finished things off well and that their openers had begun strongly as well.
He added that Rajasthan have been working toward fuller, more complete cricket across the full 40 overs and hopes to tighten things as the tournament reaches its most crucial stage. Another strong performance, he suggested, could also allow the team to manage rest and recovery for the next phase.
Parag also confirmed selections that shape the XI—Bishnoi returning and Shubham moving into the main squad—highlighting the adjustments being made to maintain momentum in a close playoff picture.
Starc’s return reshapes Delhi’s attack
While the toss set the tone with Rajasthan’s batting choice, the biggest shift came from the Delhi Capitals camp. Starc’s inclusion adds a fresh edge to their pace unit, and his opening overs against Sooryavanshi are expected to determine how aggressive the contest becomes from the start.
Delhi captain Axar Patel outlined the changes with the goal of turning their season around. He confirmed that Starc is in the XI, with Chameera missing, and that Pathum Nissanka returns—meaning David Miller is left out. Axar also stated that Ashok Sharma comes into the playing group.
Axar framed it as a move back to fundamentals, stressing the importance of staying in the moment and focusing on positive execution rather than drifting into uncertainty. He highlighted attitude and body language as key factors, especially in matches where momentum can swing quickly.
With both sides making adjustments and chasing steadier performances, the matchup carries extra pressure—yet the early overs promise the sharpest storyline. Starc’s pace and accuracy against a high-energy Sooryavanshi could define the opening rhythm, before both teams try to impose their plans as the innings unfolds.
Playing XIs
Delhi Capitals XI: KL Rahul (w), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (c), Ashutosh Sharma, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan.
Rajasthan Royals XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (w), Riyan Parag (c), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma.
