Kamal Ghorui
Delhi Capitals have received a major boost as their star overseas pacer, Mitchell Starc, has officially joined the camp ahead of their clash against Punjab Kings.Starc’s arrival was delayed in IPL 2026 due to ongoing shoulder and elbow injuries. These issues stemmed from a high workload during the Ashes series (where he bowled over 153 overs) and were compounded by a heavy fall while diving for a catch during the Big Bash League (BBL) in late January. Starc experienced persistent soreness when he attempted to return to bowling in February, necessitating a longer rehabilitation period in Sydney.Following his recovery, Cricket Australia officially cleared him to join Delhi Capitals on 23 April 2026. In his absence, Delhi Capital’s pace attack was led by Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, and Lungi Ngidi.In IPL 2025, Starc represented Delhi Capitals after being bought for Rs 11.75 crore in the mega auction. He was one of the franchise’s standout performers, finishing with 14 wickets in 11 matches. He also claimed his maiden IPL five-wicket haul (5/35) against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Visakhapatnam, becoming the first overseas pacer in DC’s history to achieve the feat. However, he did not complete the season, opting to return to Australia to prepare for the World Test Championship Final.
Will he play against Punjab Kings today?
Starc is unlikely to feature in the immediate home game against Punjab Kings on 25 April. Instead, he is expected to play his 1st match of IPL 2026 for Delhi Capitals on 1 May against Rajasthan Royals. Before returning to match action, he will undergo a brief training and acclimatisation phase with the DC support staff to gradually build up his bowling intensity after a three-month injury layoff.Barring any setbacks, Starc is expected to be available for the remainder of the season, including the final league matches and the playoffs. In the meantime, Delhi Capitals’ pace attack will continue to be led by Ngidi, who has taken seven wickets in the first six matches.
