Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc is finally set to make his IPL 2026 debut for the Delhi Capitals, but not before May 1, the date from which Cricket Australia’s No Objection Certificate (NOC) takes effect.
While fellow Australians Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have already been in action for their respective franchises, Starc is yet to play a single match in IPL 2026 with the Delhi Capitals.
Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel confirmed the development after DC’s heavy defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday night. “Yes, Mitchell Starc has joined. He has got the NOC from the 1st, so he can play after that. His workload is being monitored. Whenever he is available, we will look to play him,” Patel said at the post-match press conference.
The timing of Starc’s anticipated arrival is bittersweet for DC fans, coming on the back of a crushing performance by RCB’s pace attack. DC were reduced to 9 for 6 inside the fourth over of the first innings, recording just 13 runs in the powerplay, the lowest total ever in IPL history at that stage. They were eventually bowled out for 75.
Josh Hazlewood was named Player of the Match for his 4/12 in 3.3 overs, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar took three wickets at an economy of just 1.67.
DC now sit seventh in the IPL 2026 points table with three wins from eight games. The arrival of Starc, subject to workload management, could prove crucial as the franchise looks to resurrect their campaign.
