Mitchell Starc missed out as Delhi Capitals take on Lucknow Super Giants in their Indian Premier League 2026 opener at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Starc is a crucial member of the Capitals' side and was picked by the franchise ahead of IPL 2025 for Rs 11.75 crore.
Why is Starc missing IPL opener?
Starc has not joined the DC squad in India and he recently confirmed that he is recovering from a shoulder and an elbow injury. Responding to the criticism he has faced over his absence, Starc stated, "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. 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.
Starc apologised to DC for his unavailability, looks to join ASAP
Meanwhile, Starc apologised to the DC management for the injury and remained committed to be back as soon as he can. "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 join DC, are in continual communication updating the team, and will continue to do what I can to be available for DC asap," he said.
Starc's statement came after his commitment was questioned for not coming to play for the Capitals. He was not being given an NOC from Cricket Australia with CA managing workload of their key bowlers.
DC opt to bowl first against LSG
Delhi Capitals have opted to bowl first against the Super Giants after captain Axar Patel won the toss. "We will bowl first. First match, fresh wicket, it's a red solid wicket and might help in the first 6 overs. Data says a lot of matches are won by the team batting first, but we thought it's the first game and we will bowl. We started well last time, but we slipped in the middle, we're not thinking too far ahead. Nissanka, Miller, Stubbs and Lungi Ngidi, our four overseas players," Axar said at the toss.
LSG skipper Rishabh Pant stated that toss does not matter much on this wicket. "It doesn't matter on a wicket like this, it won't change a lot as I don't think dew will come. It's completely new - we've changed our colour and logo. No negative thoughts, we're feeling good and raring to go. Last season there were injury concerns, but as a captain you can't dwell on them too much. Everyone is fit this time around. Markram, Marsh, Nicholas Pooran and Anrich Nortje are our four overseas players," Pant said.
Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Mohsin Khan, Mohammed Shami, Anrich Nortje, Prince Yadav
Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): KL Rahul(w), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Axar Patel(c), Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Vipraj Nigam, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar
Lucknow Super Giants Impact subs: Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akshat Raghuvanshi
Delhi Capitals Impact subs: Ashutosh Sharma, Auqib Nabi, Sameer Rizvi, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair
