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Australia’s left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc turned up for his first game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 for Delhi Capitals (DC) with strappings. After missing eight games due to a shoulder injury, Starc helped DC get back to winning ways, contributing with a three-fer. After the match, he was asked about the strappings. The pacer had a laugh about it and said that players usually retire when they’re heavily strapped like him. However, he is not ready to call it quits yet.
"There's a couple of things. We laugh (and say) if you've got three things strapped it's time think about retirement, but I'm not quiet there yet. But no, it is what it is. It's a cricketer's life, it's a bowler's life. We move on,” Starc said after DC beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets, chasing down 226 with five balls to spare.
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Starc had joined DC camp two matches ago. He watched Punjab Kings (PBKS) pull off the highest run chase in IPL history. Then, he witnessed DC getting bowled out for 75 by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The Australian is happy to get back into the groove after acclimatising to the conditions.
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"Nice to get the cobwebs out. Good to get some running in the legs, get some training in. Nice return... I mean I've been bowling for a period of weeks. Haven't bowled at a batter until three nights ago. In terms of ticking the boxes with the skills, I was in a position to do most of what I want to do," said the 36-year-old.
Starc strikes with new ball and the old
This was Starc's first competitive game since the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 final on January 25. He was welcomed to the IPL 2026 with a six by Yashasvi Jaiswal. But, on the third ball, he bowled a high full toss. Jaiswal mistimed and Starc got him out caught and bowled. Later in the innings, he got rid of Ravindra Jadeja and skipper Riyan Parag as well. From four overs, he conceded 40 runs in a high-scoring clash.
Starc will be seen in action again in DC's home game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 5.
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