Australia’s speed Mitchell Starc India has launched a scathing attack on media pundits and individuals it has accused of spreading misinformed views about shoulder and elbow injuries. IPL 2026.
In a candid Instagram post on Saturday, the Delhi Capitals (DC) fast bowler confirmed that he is dealing with a recently diagnosed problem in his shoulder and elbow – which he said he was unaware of the full extent of throughout the Australian summer. The announcement comes amid growing speculation in Indian cricket circles questioning his fitness and commitment to the franchise.
“Despite the opinions and views of certain individuals with their platforms in and through the Indian media, I am currently rehabilitating and treating an injury of unknown extent to my shoulder and elbow during the Australian summer.” Stark wrote.
The left-arm pacer did not shy away from criticizing those who questioned his existence, pointing out that the foreign comments were going too far.
“These individuals have made some harsh statements about participating in the IPL and presented very misinformed views of the players, promoted them as fact and claimed to know my body better than I do.” he added.
Mitchell Starc apologizes to Delhi Capitals and their fans
While pushing back against the media narrative, Starc acknowledged the inauspicious timing of the setback and expressed his condolences to the Delhi Capitals organization and their supporters. He stopped short of specifying how many matches he would miss, but reiterated his commitment to joining the franchise as soon as possible.
“However, I recognize that this injury setback and timing has been disruptive for the Delhi team and I apologize to the fans for that and for my unavailability at the start of this season. I am committed to joining DC, am constantly updating the squad and will continue to do my best to be at DC as soon as possible,” Stark said.
Former India opener Akash Chopra He emerged as one of the most prominent voices questioning Starc’s absence. In a recent episode of his YouTube channel, Chopra questioned the pacer’s fitness status, hinting at the gap since the end of the Ashes series in January this year.
“What does Cricket Australia do if Mitchell Starc is not going to start either? … although he is fully fit. He is already out of the T20Is. So, what has he done in the last two months?” Chopra noted.
Confusion over Starc’s No Objection Certificate
The uncertainty over Starc’s availability has been heightened by mixed messages from the Delhi Capitals camp. In recent press conferences, the franchise management refused to confirm the nature of the injury, saying only that Cricket Australia (CA) is yet to issue the required No Objection Certificate (NoC) for his participation.
Adding to the confusion, CA’s official website, cricket.com.au, previously suggested that the governing body had deliberately held back Starc from the early games of the IPL to manage his workload ahead of a busy international schedule spanning 2026 and 2027.
Starc’s definitive statement now confirms the injury is physical rather than administrative, drawing a firm line between medical reality and the speculation he says has dominated the Indian media in recent days.
Also READ: IPL 2026 – How many matches will Mitchell Starc miss for Delhi Capitals?
