Starc bashes critics for ‘misinformed opinion’ about his injury:DC pacer responds to ‘strong statements’ around his IPL commitment

Australian pacer and Delhi Capitals player Mitchell Starc has issued a strong-worded response to critics questioning his IPL commitment. The 36-year-old posted an Instagram story on Saturday evening responding to the ones who targeted him for his availability in the league. Earlier, Starc’s wife, Alyssa Healy, responded to a fan’s comment on an Instagram post who didn’t know that the DC bowler was injured. Healy commented on Friday that Mitchell Starc was injured and that’s why he wasn’t able to join the camp. Notably, the left-arm pacer played all five Ashes Tests against England and the latter portion of the Big Bash League. Hazlewood and Cummins joined RCB and SRH camps, with Starc yet to join his team. Today, he took the matter into his own hands and issued a response himself on his social media (Instagram profile). ‘Individuals claim to know my body better than me’: Mitchell Starc Posting on his Instagram story, the left-arm pacer said, “Despite the opinions and views of certain individuals with their platforms in and through the Indian media, I’m currently rehabbing and managing an injury in my shoulder and elbow, of which I didn’t know the extent of during the Australian summer.” He further added, “These individuals have made some strong statements around involvement in the IPL and provided heavily misinformed opinions of players, preached them as facts, and claim to know my body better than me. With that said, I do acknowledge this injury setback, and timing is disruptive to the Delhi team, and I apologise for that and to the fans for not being available for the early part of this season. I remain committed to joining DC, am in continual communication updating the team and will continue to do what I can to be available for DC asap.” It’s worth noting that cricket pundits like Aakash Chopra questioned the logic behind resting Starc, who seemed fit to him, since the pacer played the Ashes as well as the BBL. Also Read: MS Dhoni ruled out for 2 weeks with calf injury: To miss reunion against Kohli; Samson likely to keep wickets for CSK What did Aakash Chopra say about Mitchell Starc’s IPL commitment? Aakash Chopra earlier raised concerns over Cricket Australia’s reported decision to delay Mitchell Starc’s availability for IPL 2026, questioning the logic behind resting a fully fit player. The DC pacer is to miss the initial matches due to workload management despite not playing any competitive cricket for nearly two months. In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra expressed his confusion over the move, “If Mitchell Starc is also not going to come at the start, what is Cricket Australia doing? You didn’t let Josh Hazlewood come, Pat Cummins isn’t coming, and now you have held back Mitchell Starc, even though he is absolutely fit. He has already said goodbye to T20Is. So what has he done in the last two months or so?” Chopra pointed out that Starc has not featured in any matches since the 2025–26 Ashes and questioned the need to preserve him so early for the upcoming five-Test series against India. He hasn’t played any cricket after the Ashes, but despite that, you have asked him to rest because a big Test season is coming up, in which there are five Test matches against India. That’s just before the next IPL. Why are you doing that now?” he added. The former India batter also questioned the availability of Lockie Ferguson, who will likely miss seven games due to a family commitment. Notably, he was bought for ₹2 crore in the auction that took place last year, and Chopra suggested that it might send the wrong message. He added that there is a growing possibility of players opting for partial participation while earning pro-rata payments, though he clarified he was not accusing anyone of doing so deliberately.