Mitchell Starc of Delhi Capitals (PTI Image)
Mitchell Starc responded strongly to the criticism surrounding his absence from the first phase of the 2026 Indian Premier League, confirming that an elbow injury delayed his arrival in India.The left-arm fast bowler is set to miss Delhi Capitals’ opening matches, sparking a debate over the commitment of foreign players. Among those who have raised concerns are former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and former India batsman Aakash Chopra.
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However, Starc clarified that the decision was down to injury, with Cricket Australia having already confirmed that he, along with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, would miss the first phase of the tournament due to workload management.
His absence has also sparked debate among fans, with questions raised about his availability. Stark’s wife, Alyssa Healy, spoke about the matter on Instagram, noting that he is currently recovering from the injury.Stark broke his silence, disputed the narrative about his absence, and revealed that the extent of his injury did not become clear until after the Australian summer.
Stark insta story
“Despite the opinions and views of some individuals on and through their platforms in the Indian media, I am currently rehabilitating and dealing with an injury to my shoulder and elbow that I did not know the extent of over the Australian summer,” Stark stated.
He also criticized what he described as inaccurate comments about his situation.“These individuals have made some strong statements about participating in the Indian Premier League and have given very misleading opinions about players, preached them as facts, and claimed to know my body better than me,” he added.
Starc reaffirms her commitment to Delhi Capitals
Despite the setback, Stark reiterated his commitment to the franchise and apologized for missing the first part of the season.He concluded: “However, I acknowledge this injury setback and the timing is holding back the Delhi team and I apologize for that and to the fans for not being available for the first part of this season. I remain committed to joining DC, I am in constant contact to update the team and will continue to do my best to be available for DC as soon as possible.”