Delhi Capitals’ Mitchell Starc (PTI Photo) Mitchell Starc has responded strongly to criticism surrounding his absence in the early stages of the 2026 Indian Premier League, confirming that an elbow injury has delayed his arrival in India.The left-handed speedster will miss the opening games for the Delhi Capitals, fueling the debate over the involvement of overseas players. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar and former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra were among those who raised concerns.
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IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan steals the show at the captains’ meet However, Starc clarified that the decision was due to injury, with Cricket Australia already confirming he will miss the opening phase of the tournament along with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins due to workload management.His absence has also sparked discussion among fans, with questions about his availability. Alyssa Healy, Starc’s wife, addressed the issue via Instagram and indicated that he is currently recovering from his injury.Starc broke his silence and pushed back on the narrative surrounding his absence, revealing the extent of his injury was not clear until after the Australian summer.
Starc insta story
“Despite the views and opinions of certain individuals with their platforms in and through the Indian media, I am currently rehabilitating and managing shoulder and elbow injuries, the extent of which I was unaware of during the Australian summer,” Starc said.He also criticized what he described as inaccurate commentary regarding his situation.“These individuals have made some strong statements about their involvement in the IPL and have given heavily misinformed opinions of players, preaching them as fact and claiming to know my body better than I do,” he added.
Starc reaffirms commitment to Delhi Capitals
Despite the setback, Starc reiterated his commitment to the franchise and apologized for missing the start of the season.“With that being said, I recognize that this injury setback and the timing is disruptive to the Delhi team and I apologize for that and to the fans that I will not be available for the start of this season. I remain committed to joining DC, I am in constant communication with the squad and will continue to do my best to be available for DC as soon as possible,” he concluded.
