Delhi Capitals (DC) suffered an early setback IPL 2026with the star Australian pacer Mitchell Starc is preparing to miss the opening round of the tournament. Although the exact number of matches has not been officially confirmed, reports suggest that he will not be available for the “first few games”, meaning that he will not be able to take part in at least the initial games.
For Delhi, that means Starc will miss the season opener against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1, along with a few more matches earlier in 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 dealing with injury. Instead, his absence is part of a carefully planned workload management strategy by Cricket Australia, which wants to keep its key fast bowlers fresh for the demanding international schedule.
This makes Starc’s situation quite different from that of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who are currently sidelined through injury. For Starc, it’s more about long-term fitness than recovery.
Managing the workload behind Mitchell Starc’s absence
Starc’s decision to rest highlights just how busy the upcoming calendar is for Australia. Over the next year, the team is expected to play tough Test cricket, including big tours and series that will require their top bowlers to be at peak fitness.
Starc in particular had a demanding 12 months. He scored a considerable number of wickets in Test cricket, played all five Ashes matches and featured in other domestic competitions as well. With such a workload behind him, managing his fitness becomes very important.
Despite stepping away from T20 internationals, Starc remains a key figure in Australia’s plans for the longer formats. Ensuring he stays fresh for these commitments seems to be a priority.
And for Delhi Capitals, his absence leaves a glaring void. Starc’s ability to strike early with the new ball and create pressure on the power play is one of his strengths. Last season, he scored 14 goals in 11 matches, proving his worth to the side.
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Pace bowling options for Delhi Capitals
In his absence, DC will have to rely on the pace options available. Likes bowling T NatarajanMukesh Kumar, Lungi Ngidi and Dushmantha Chameera are expected to step up and share the responsibility.
The Axar Patel-led franchise will aim to manage the first matches without a marquee signing and stay in contention until Starc returns. If they can hold on to their place, the Aussie’s arrival later in the tournament could be a huge boost, especially before the play-off race heats up.
For now, the message is clear – Delhi Capitals will enter IPL 2026 without one of their biggest weapons, but will need to have enough depth to stay in contention until he joins the squad.
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