Australian pacer Mitchell Starc will not finish the 2025 edition of the IPL with the Delhi Capitals as the fast bowler has decided against returning for the remainder of the season. Starc, who was one of several Australians involved in the PBKS vs DC clash in Dharamsala a week ago where nearby areas such as Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur among others went under blackout following air-raid sirens, witnessed the stadium being evacuated amid chaos as the border situation between India and Pakistan escalated in the next couple of days.
As per an AAP report, Starc has communicated to the Capitals that he will be unable to complete the season. Starc, who was acquired by the Capitals for Rs 11.75 crore at the IPL 2025 auction, picked up 14 wickets for the franchise in 11 matches and won the side a couple of them on his own, which included defending nine runs off one over and then bowling a Super Over while taking his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 cricket in the other.
Starc will be the second Australian for the Capitals after Jake Fraser-McGurk pulled out of the last leg of the IPL due to personal reasons. Fraser-McGurk was replaced by Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman for the rest of the tournament but his case too is a bit bizarre since neither franchise nor the player informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board about obtaining an NOC since the Asian side is set to play a two-match T20 series against the UAE on May 17 and 19, clashing with the IPL resumption.
Among other Australians, the uncertainty remains over the return of Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis. However, the likes of Mitch Owen, Pat Cummins, Travis Head and Xavier Bartlett have returned while Josh Hazlewood will rejoin RCB before the playoffs.
The IPL resumes on May 17 with RCB taking on the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru, with seven teams still in fray for a spot in the top four.