Delhi Capitals (DC) have been left in a lurch as it remains uncertain as to when Mitchell Starc will join the camp for IPL 2026. Just days earlier, a report had stated that the formidable pacer, along with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, are set to miss the first few games of the upcoming edition of the tournament. With DC set to kick-off their IPL 2026 campaign on April 1 by taking on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their tournament opener, head coach Hemang Badani has provided a clarity on when Starc is expected to join the team.
When will Starc join DC camp for IPL 2026?
Speaking to reporters, DC head coach Badani claimed that the team is still awaiting a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Cricket Australia when he was posed a question on Starc’s availability. The Australian pacer was last seen in action in January 2026 where he played for the Sydney Sixers in Perth. It is pertinent to point out that Starc is currently active in only ODIs and Tests, and hence wasn’t a part of Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign either, which means he hasn’t played competitive cricket for over 2 months now.
“We are waiting to hear and get an NOC from Cricket Australia. Once we get that, we will know what is happening and when he will join us,” the DC head coach said.
The decision to make Starc miss the first few games of IPL 2026 is a part of Cricket Australia’s workload management plan for the pacer. The fast bowler had a gruelling period over the last one year, where he not only played throughout the Ashes, but also was a part of the Big Bash League (BBL). Starc, who is one of DC’s lethal bowlers, was retained for a price of Rs 11.75 crore ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
Talking about Starc’s numbers in IPL 2025, he picked up 14 wickets from 11 matches at an average of 26.14 and best figures of 5/35. He was the most-expensive player to be sold in the IPL 2025 mega auction after he was bought for a whooping Rs 24.75 crore but simply failed to justify the hefty price tag, following which he was released.
Cricket
Predicted Gujarat Titans Playing XI for IPL 2026: Shubman Gill to leave out Kagiso Rabada?
