Ahead of Delhi’s clash against Punjab, Mitchell Starc has been given clearance to travel to India for IPL 2026 after recovering from shoulder and elbow injuries. The experienced fast bowler is now expected to join Delhi Capitals soon as he will arrive in India on Friday. Starc, who has not played any cricket since late January, is targeting a return for Delhi Capitals’ match against Rajasthan Royals on May 1. His comeback will be a big boost for the team as they look to strengthen their bowling attack. The 36-year-old had faced delays in joining the IPL earlier, which had led to confusion among fans. However, he later clarified his situation and expressed frustration at ‘heavily misinformed opinions’ about his absence. Mitchell Starc’s positive recovery and return timeline The good news for Delhi Capitals ahead of the clash against PBKS is that Starc has now completed a week of pain-free bowling in Sydney. He is expected to travel to India shortly and begin preparations with the team. However, he will need some time to adjust to conditions and gradually increase his bowling workload. If everything goes well, he is likely to be available for the May 1 match and could play the remainder of the season. His return is crucial for Delhi Capitals, who will benefit from his experience and pace during the important phase of the tournament. Starc’s injury setback after heavy workload Starc’s injury came after a very busy period of cricket. He played a key role in the The Ashes, where he was named Player of the Series for taking 31 wickets. He bowled more than 150 overs across five Test matches, showing great endurance and skill. After the Ashes, Starc featured in the Big Bash League for Sydney Sixers. During one of the matches, he suffered a fall while trying to take a catch, injuring his left shoulder and elbow. Although he took a break in February, he felt some discomfort when he resumed bowling, which delayed his return to competitive cricket and his IPL participation. ‘Individuals claim to know my body better than me’: Mitchell Starc Earlier, 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 responding to the ones who targeted him for his availability in the league for the Capitals. He 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.” Post navigation Jaipur IPL opener offers big student discount on tickets:₹1,800 seats available for ₹500; ID card mandatory, one ticket per student ‘I watch cartoons, but focus on the game’:Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shares about his me time, says, ‘Next plan is to do well’
