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Mitchell Starc has already missed the first six games for Delhi Capitals due to elbow and shoulder injuries. He will further likely to miss two more games against Punjab Kings and RCB.
Mitchell Starc will land in Delhi on April 24 for IPL 2026. In a major boost for Delhi Capitals amid Indian Premier League (IPL), Mitchell Starc will finally join the squad after six games, following the pacer's clearance by Cricket Australia. The 36-year-old has been on the sidelines with elbow and shoulder injuries and missed the T20 World Cup 2026.
Based on the TOI report, Starc will be joining Delhi Capitals on Friday (April 24) morning and is unlikely to play their home game against Punjab Kings. The report stated that Starc is expected to be available against Rajasthan Royals in their May 1 fixture.
Starc's first tryst with IPL came in 2014 when he played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and played for a couple of seasons. Post that, the left-arm Australian pacer took a long nine-year break from the world's richest franchise league before returning to IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a triumphant campaign.
Surprisingly, Starc was released before IPL 2025. He was picked by the Delhi Capitals for ₹11.75 crore during the IPL 2025 auction. Although Starc's joining is a big boost for the Axar Patel-led side, the Australian will miss two more games before taking the field in Delhi Capitals colours.
How have Delhi Capitals fared in IPL 2026 so far?
Having started their campaign with two wins, Delhi Capitals have been on and off in their next four games. While David Miller's overconfidence cost them against Gujarat Titans, they lost to Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Delhi Capitals will take confidence from their win against RCB.
With three wins and three losses, Delhi Capitals will have to win against Punjab Kings and RCB to keep their IPL 2026 playoffs qualification chances strong, before Starc steams in with the new ball.
When Mitchell Starc hit at critics
Earlier, Starc took to Instagram to hit back at the critics, after the franchise chose to keep mum on the fast bowler's fitness update, leading to rumours with fingers pointed at Starc's commitment towards the club.
Taking to Instagram story, Starc himself gave an update on his fitness. “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 of which I didn’t know the extent of during the Australian summer,” Starc had said on March 28.
“These individuals have made some strong statements around involvement in the IPL and provided heavily misinformed opinions of players, preached them as facts, and claim to know my body better than me,” added Starc before issuing an apology to the fans and the team members.
“With that said, I do acknowledge this injury setback and that the timing is disruptive for the Delhi team. I apologise for that and to the fans for not being available for the early part of this season. I remain committed to joining DC. We are in continual communication, and I will continue doing everything I can to be available as soon as possible,” added Starc.
Catch the live updates from IPL 2026 with the complete IPL 2026 Schedule and the IPL 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts in IPL 2026 Orange Cap and IPL 2026 Purple Cap.
About the Author
Koushik Paul
Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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