Delhi Capitals Boost as Mitchell Starc Cleared to Join IPL 2026 Squad

Delhi Capitals have received good news in the Indian Premier League. Fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been allowed by Cricket Australia to travel to India and join the team. 

He was struggling with shoulder and elbow issues but has regained full fitness now and is hoping to be available for his team from the game against the Rajasthan Royals on May 1.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Mitchell Starc will travel to India on Friday and join the Delhi Capitals squad over the weekend. Delhi will play Punjab Kings on Saturday and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Monday (April 29).

Delhi Capitals Boost as Mitchell Starc Cleared to Join Squad

However, Starc will need some time to adjust to conditions and build up his bowling, so he is likely to be ready for the May 1 match in Jaipur. As for his unavailability until now, there was massive confusion at the start of the IPL, but then the fast bowler himself took to social media to detail his injury and expressed frustration at "heavily misinformed opinions."

According to a report from ESPNcricinfo, Mitchell Starc bowled well in Australia at the start of the week (7 October) with no pain in his back and has been cleared to travel home on Friday. Cricket Australia will be happy their leading Test bowlers are nearly all regaining complete fitness.

At the start of this season, Josh Hazlewood had been unavailable to play but now has participated in several matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), with no pain. Starc is likely to play on 1 May after not having played since late January, while Pat Cummins has an IPL debut (for Sunrisers Hyderabad) on Saturday against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.