As the excitement builds towards IPL 2026, Delhi Capitals (DC) will experience a large setback as left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc (36 yrs) will miss the start of the tournament for national duties. Mitchell was likely to be the marquee signing at DC for an impressive INR 11.75 crore.
Cricket Australia (CA) will be holding him back from playing for DC during the start of the season as part of a strict workload management strategy to keep Australia’s elite pace bowlers fresh for a long international cricket season ahead.
Workload Wars for Mitchell Starc
The decision comes on the back of a long summer for Starc, who played in all five Ashes Tests and the final part of the Big Bash League. He may have retired from T20 Internationals last year, but Starc is still very important to Australia’s plans for Test cricket.
With CA expecting an enormous 21-Test period over the next 12 months, which includes major tours to South Africa, India, and England, the board does not want to risk their top strike bowler in the early heat of the IPL.
Starc is not alone in this "holding pattern." Sources say that Pat Cummins (SRH) and Josh Hazlewood (RCB) are also likely to miss their teams' first games under the same precautionary protocols. For Delhi, though, it is a bigger problem since they have specifically counted on Starc to lead an attack that had difficulty being steady last season.
Selection Headaches for Axar Patel and DC
With the DC ready to open their campaign on April 1 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), captain Axar Patel and the coaching staff must see the tactical drawing board again. Starc's absence creates a huge gap in the powerplay, where his skill of swinging the ball at 145 km/h is almost unmatchable.
The Capitals indeed have backups in Lungi Ngidi and newly signed Kyle Jamieson however the "Starc Factor"the psychological advantage he brings to the gamewill be greatly missed. To add salt to the wounds of the Australian players in the IPL, Nathan Ellis (CSK) has been officially out of the whole tournament due to a recurring hamstring injury, which means a tough beginning for the Aussies in India this year.
Cricket.com.au sources indicate that Mitchell Starc will be traveling to India depending on how well he continues to progress through the "return-to-play" procedures in the next few weeks. While most fans hope he will back around mid-April.
Cricket Australia (CA) medical staff are rumoured to take a conservative approach given the upcoming (2027) One Day International (ODI) World Cup. As a result, fans in Delhi will have to wait until they get to see their long-awaited purchase wearing the famous blue and red shirts.
Also Read: 4 Players CSK Can Sign As Replacement Of Injured Nathan Ellis For IPL 2026
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