Starc resumes bowling, Axar hopes for quick clearance from Cricket Australia

DC head coach Hemang Badani said "there is very little we as a franchise can do" until confirmations arrive

ESPNcricinfo staff

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 4:52 PM (4 hrs ago)

Australia and Delhi Capitals (DC) fast bowler Mitchell Starc is getting close to match fitness as he has started bowling, DC head coach Hemang Badani said. Starc will miss the initial part of IPL 2026 as Cricket Australia is understood to be monitoring the workloads of their premier fast bowlers, including Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

"On Mitchell Starc, we are in constant communication with him and the relevant boards," Badani said. "He has started bowling, and had a session recently. But the key point here is that until Cricket Australia provides the No Objection Certificate and confirms his availability, there is very little we as a franchise can do. Once that clearance comes through, we will have complete clarity on when he joins the squad and how we plan around that."

DC's other overseas fast-bowling options include Kyle Jamieson, Lungi Ngidi and Dushmantha Chameera. How they fill the void left by Starc, who picked 14 wickets in 11 games last season, remains to be seen.

"If Starc is not available at the start, then obviously we have to look at the team combination accordingly," captain Axar Patel said. "Whether we go with another left-arm option or adjust the balance with available players, those are decisions we will take based on conditions and opposition. Combination is always about balance, especially in T20 cricket. He might be available to play the first game if he gets necessary clearances, so let's not rule his availability out."

DC have hope because their opening IPL fixture is on April 1, against Lucknow Super Giants.

Starc was retained for INR 11.75 crore by DC before the 2026 auction, and was Australia's bowling frontman at the Ashes, playing all five Tests and winning the Player-of-the-Series award in Australia's 4-1 win. His last outing was for Sydney Sixers in the BBL in January end. The workload for Australia's fast bowlers will be closely watched as they are scheduled to play 21 Tests from August 2026 to July 2027, including four Tests in four weeks against New Zealand in December-January.

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