Mitchell Starc’s IPL 2026 Arrival Delayed Until Late April Amid Injury Rehabilitation
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc will delay his arrival at the Delhi Capitals camp for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season as he manages concurrent shoulder and elbow injuries. Team management expects the 36-year-old left-arm pacer to remain in Australia for rehabilitation and he is highly unlikely to join the squad before April 20.
Matches Affected by Starc’s Absence
Due to the prolonged recovery timeline, Delhi Capitals will navigate at least three more fixtures without their premier fast bowler. The IPL 2026 schedule indicates Starc will miss the following games:
| Date | Opponent | Status |
|---|---|---|
| April 8 | Gujarat Titans | Home |
| April 11 | Chennai Super Kings | Away |
| April 18 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Home |
Starc Rebuts Media Claims Regarding IPL Commitment
Following speculation regarding his absence, Starc issued a direct statement on social media addressing the situation. He clarified that the severity of his injuries only became fully apparent after the conclusion of the Australian summer cricket season.
“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,” Starc wrote. “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.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to joining the franchise, adding, “I do acknowledge this injury setback and that the timing is disruptive to the Delhi team, and I apologize 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.”
Delhi Capitals Maintain Undefeated Start
Despite missing Starc’s pace, the Delhi Capitals remain one of the four undefeated teams in the tournament. Operating under the captaincy of all-rounder Axar Patel, the team recently secured victories against the Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians.
The bowling unit has compensated for the missing fast bowler through collective output:
- Pace Attack: Mukesh Kumar has delivered consistent early breakthroughs with the new ball, while Lungi Ngidi and T. Natarajan have maintained strict economy rates during the final overs.
- Spin Department: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Vipraj Nigam have successfully contained opposition batting lineups during the middle phases of the innings.
The batting order has also found stability. Young batsman Sameer Rizvi successfully anchored two high-pressure run chases, reducing the burden on the top order. Delhi Capitals will host the Gujarat Titans on April 8, where a victory will elevate them to the top position on the IPL points table.