Can Starc stop Sooryavanshi’s rampage? (Image Credit: IPL/BCCI) Vaibhav Sooryavanshi takes on Delhi Capitals tonight and one of the most aggressive battles of the night could be the mighty Mitchell Starc vs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi clash.Still looking for consistency this season, Delhi Capitals have received a timely boost with the return of Mitchell Starc. They now face an in-form Rajasthan Royals side who are riding high on back-to-back wins, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter.
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Axar Patel shares a big update on Mitchell StarcAt the heart of the contest is a fascinating showdown, cricket’s youngest fearless aggressor against one of its most accomplished fast bowlers. Sooryavanshi has built a reputation for explosive starts and hit a superb six off the very first ball of his IPL debut. He repeated this audacity against elite names like Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins.Starc, on the other hand, is historically among the deadliest new-ball pitchers, especially against lefties. But after recently recovering from shoulder and elbow injuries, questions remain about his rhythm, especially against a batsman who is in scorching form at the moment.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s batting order in IPL
The numbers only reinforce Sooryavanshi’s dominance. Across IPL 2025 and 2026, he has fielded an impressive list of bowlers including Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Trent Boult, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson and Marc Jansen. Remarkably, only Rabada was able to keep him relatively calm, conceding a strike count of around 125. Against almost every other top-order bowler, Sooryavanshi hit more than 200, even Siraj at a blistering 170.And it’s not just about scoring runs, it’s about the manner. Sooryavanshi showed no regard for reputation. A first-ball six against Bumrah, another against Boult and a similar intent against Cummins highlight his fearless mindset. Hazlewood’s first delivery to him was 4, 4, 4, 6. Bhuvneshwar was greeted with a boundary from the very first ball, while Arshdeep conceded 6, 4, 4 in his opening over. Even the art of Sunil Narine and the express pace of Ferguson could not contain him for long.Of all the bowlers he faced, only Mohsin Khan and Narine were able to restrict him effectively, while Rashid Khan and Prasidh Krishna had more even matches.
Return of the Mighty Old Man
A plus point for Delhi Capitals is the return of Mitchell Starc after a long layoff. After a full recovery, Starc is expected to bring extra pace and rhythm if he features against Rajasthan Royals tonight. Last season, he registered his maiden five-wicket haul against Sunrisers Hyderabad, becoming the first overseas pacer for Delhi Capitals to do so. After a nine-year hiatus from the IPL, Starc has been paid a record Rs 24.75 crore in 2024, underscoring the franchise’s faith in his match-winning ability.While his economy rate was on the higher side during the league phase, Starc delivered when it mattered most. He produced match-defining spells in the playoffs, striking early to dismantle Sunrisers Hyderabad in both the qualifiers and the final. His deadly yorker to dismiss Abhishek Sharma in the IPL 2024 final perfectly justified his price tag and showcased his great pedigree.With these numbers, the big question remains: can Mitchell Starc, while a little short of top pace, find a way to counter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s relentless aggression, or will the youngster continue his trend of hitting elite bowlers from the first ball?With Cricket Australia allowing Starc to participate in the IPL from May 1, it now remains to be seen whether Delhi Capitals will include him in today’s clash. If they do, fans could be in for one of the most explosive games of the season.
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