Delhi Capitals (DC) have suffered an initial setback ipl 2026With star Australian pacer Mitchell Starc It is certain to miss the initial stages of the tournament. Although the exact number of matches has not been officially confirmed, reports suggest that he will be unavailable for the “first few games”, meaning he is likely to sit out at least the initial fixtures.
For Delhi, this means Starc will almost certainly miss the season-opening match against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1, as well as a few more matches in the early part of the campaign. His return will depend on how quickly he progresses through return-to-play protocols in the coming weeks.
Unlike some of his Australian teammates, Starc is not struggling with any injuries. Instead, his absence is part of a carefully planned workload management strategy by Cricket Australia, which seeks to keep its premier fast bowlers fresh for a demanding international schedule.
This makes Starc’s situation very different from that of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who are currently out due to injuries. For Starc, it is about long-term fitness rather than recovery.
Workload management is the reason behind Mitchell Starc’s absence
The decision to rest Starc highlights how difficult the upcoming calendar is for Australia. Next year, the team is expected to play a heavy load of Test cricket, including major tours and series, which will require their top bowlers to be at peak fitness.
It has been a difficult 12 months especially for Starc. He has bowled a large number of overs in Test cricket, played in all five Ashes matches and also featured in other domestic competitions. With so much workload behind him, it becomes important to manage his fitness.
He may have stepped away from T20 Internationals, but Starc remains a key figure in Australia’s plans for the longer formats. Making sure he remains fresh for those commitments appears to be the priority.
However, his absence leaves a noticeable void for Delhi Capitals. Starc’s ability to strike quickly with the new ball and apply pressure in the powerplay is one of his biggest strengths. Last season, he took 14 wickets in 11 matches, proving his usefulness to the team.
Fast bowling options for Delhi Capitals
In his absence, DC will have to rely on their existing pace options. like bowler T NatarajanMukesh Kumar, Lungi Ngidi and Dushmantha Chameera will be expected to share the responsibility from the front.
The Axar Patel-led franchise will aim to win the early matches without its key signings and remain competitive until Starc returns. If they can hold their own, the arrival of the Australian pace bowler later in the tournament could provide a big boost, especially before the playoff race heats up.
For now, the message is clear – Delhi Capitals will have to start IPL 2026 without one of their biggest weapons, but with enough depth to stay in the fight until he joins the team.
Also read: Delhi Capitals has appointed the England legend as assistant coach ahead of IPL 2026.
