The Delhi Capitals (DC) are in for a major boost. Placed in the middle of the IPL 2026 points table currently, DC will be seeing their star pacer Mitchell Starc finally join the team. The Australian legend is yet to feature in IPL 2026, with him dealing with injuries and niggles before the tournament. Now, the left-arm speedster is set to join the team and could feature in Delhi’s away game against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on May 1.
Starc cleared after long layoff for DC
Starc hasn’t played competitive cricket since January, and there’s a reason for that. The workload he carried through the Ashes was massive, as he took 31 wickets at 19.93, bowling over 150 overs across five Tests. That alone would’ve taken a toll. Add to that a BBL stint with Sydney Sixers, where he picked up a shoulder and elbow issue after a heavy fall while fielding, and the break became inevitable.
The good news for Delhi is that Starc has now come through a full week of pain-free bowling back home in Sydney. Cricket Australia (CA) would’ve never cleared him fit if he didn’t prove it. He is expected to land in India soon, but the franchise is unlikely to rush him straight into the XI. There will be a short period of getting used to conditions again, building intensity, and then slotting him in.
As per ESPNcricinfo, if everything stays on track, May 1 against RR in Jaipur is the game they are looking at. And once he’s back, he should be available for the remainder of the season.
Why Starc still matters despite DC’s strong start
Interestingly, Delhi hasn’t exactly struggled without him. Mukesh Kumar has done a solid job with the new ball, Lungi Ngidi has carried rhythm from the T20 World Cup, and Natarajan has been reliable at the death. Although DC have lost a bit of momentum after losing three of their last four games, having a superb bowling group has been their biggest strength. Add Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav controlling the middle overs, and on paper, it looks like a complete attack already.
But Starc changes the equation. It’s the angle, the pace, and more importantly, the ability to break games open in two overs. That’s what teams pay for. DC can slot both Starc and Ngidi by benching Pathum Nissanka, who has scored just 136 runs in his first six IPL games. That way, Abhisek Porel or Prithvi Shaw can open with KL Rahul, while it opens an overseas spot for Starc. However, the Australian will be missing the two home games on April 25 and April 27 against PBKS and RCB, respectively.
We’ve seen it before. In IPL 2024, Starc didn’t have a great league phase but turned up when it mattered — the Qualifier and the final — and ended up being one of the key reasons behind KKR’s title run.
Delhi Capitals’ (DC) next four IPL 2026 games
| Date | Venue | Teams | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 25, 2026 | Delhi, Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings | 3:30 PM |
| April 27, 2026 | Delhi, Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| May 01, 2026 | Jaipur, Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM |
| May 05, 2026 | Delhi, Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 PM |
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