DC vs PBKS IPL 2026: Mitchell Starc Joins Delhi Capitals Camp – Check Playing XI – Business Upturn Sports
Delhi Capitals have received the boost they have been waiting for all season — Mitchell Starc has joined the squad after recovering from elbow and shoulder injuries, arriving in Delhi on Friday night and linking up with the team ahead of their Match 35 clash against Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, April 25. But the fans hoping to see the left-arm Australian pace legend bowl today will need to wait a little longer.
Despite rejoining the camp, Starc is unlikely to feature against PBKS and may instead target a return for DC's game against Rajasthan Royals on May 1. The 36-year-old has been sidelined since late January following an intense Ashes campaign, where he was named Player of the Series after picking up 31 wickets at an average of 19.93. Starc bowled more than 150 overs across five Tests before turning out in five matches for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League.
Starc sustained elbow and shoulder injuries during the Ashes and the Big Bash League, which kept him sidelined from cricket for an extended period. Cricket Australia has now given him the green light to resume playing — a development that brings significant relief to the Delhi Capitals.
The franchise welcomed him by calling him "Tiger," with DC writing on social media: "It is worth the wait; welcome back home, Tiger."
Starc himself had broken his silence earlier on the delay. "I do acknowledge this injury setback and that the timing is disruptive for the Delhi team. 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. We are in continual communication, and I will continue doing everything I can to be available as soon as possible," he had posted.
He will now undergo match simulations and a short training and acclimatisation phase to build his bowling workload before returning to action for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026.
In IPL 2026, Delhi Capitals have been struggling to take early wickets. While Lungi Ngidi has been leading the pace attack thus far, Starc's arrival will provide the dual advantage of swing with the new ball and invaluable experience during the death overs. Starc boasts a highly impressive IPL record — 65 wickets in 52 matches, including one five-wicket haul.
Delhi Capitals are currently sixth in the IPL 2026 points table with three wins from six matches. They recently suffered a defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad and will be eager to bounce back. Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, are the only undefeated team in the tournament, sitting top of the table with 11 points.
Worries about spin remain for DC as Kuldeep Yadav and skipper Axar Patel have not performed reliably, while PBKS securely hold the top position, shining in both batting and bowling.
On the PBKS injury front, Australian youngster Cooper Connolly, who has anchored their middle order with 223 runs this season, had been sent back to Australia for scans earlier this week. However, PBKS management has confirmed that Connolly is available for today's match. The scans were precautionary, and while he had been nursing a minor back issue that limited his bowling, his batting remains unaffected.
Starc is reported to play his first game against Rajasthan Royals on May 1. Today's DC vs PBKS match kicks off at 3:30 PM IST at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The return of Starc — India's most expensive overseas IPL signing of recent years — to Delhi's pace attack for the second half of the season could be the difference between a playoff push and early elimination for a side that has the batting but has lacked the bowling firepower its price tag promised.
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