Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Hemang Badani showered praise on Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc for the impact he has had on the franchise’s younger players during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Starc, who joined the squad late and made his first appearance only on May 1, has already emerged as one of DC’s standout performers with the ball.
The veteran left-arm pacer once again delivered under pressure during DC’s crucial victory over Rajasthan Royals, picking up four wickets and helping keep the franchise alive in the playoff race.
Hemang Badani praises Mitchell Starc’s mentorship and work ethic
Speaking after the win, Hemang Badani highlighted not only Starc’s performances on the field but also the influence he has had on the younger bowlers within the squad. According to the DC coach, Starc’s professionalism, preparation, and willingness to share knowledge make him one of the finest role models in world cricket.
Badani explained that Starc is constantly involved in conversations with younger players, guiding them on multiple aspects of fast bowling including reverse swing, bowling lengths, and handling aggressive batters in pressure situations.
"His work ethic, his preparation before the game with his own plans and his training are above par. I don't even see that with a lot of the younger boys, that's the reason why he has sustained for so long," Badani said.
The DC coach also pointed towards Mitchell Starc’s performances for Australia in recent years and how the veteran pacer continues to perform at the highest level despite years of international cricket.
"If you go back and see the recent Ashes series, he single-handedly won them the Ashes - there was no Pat Cummins, there was no Josh Hazlewood; that pretty much tells you what that man can do," he added.
Badani further revealed that Starc regularly spends time helping youngsters understand game awareness and bowling strategies.
"He's always talking to them, he's always trying to pass on the knowledge - how can you do reverse swing, how do I hold lengths, what do I do when a certain batter is going hard; do I look to pick wickets or do I look to try and be submissive and be defensive. There's immense conversation that Starcy brings to the table," he stated
Starc shines again in crucial win for DC
Although Starc had a difficult start against RR with batters like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Dhruv Jurel attacking him early, the experienced pacer made a sensational comeback later in the innings.
Using reverse swing, cutters, and clever pace variations, Mitchell Starc completely changed the momentum of the match. He dismissed Riyan Parag, Donovan Ferreira, Ravi Singh, and Dasun Shanaka to finish with impressive figures of 4/40.
The victory kept Delhi Capitals alive in the IPL 2026 playoff race as the franchise continues to fight for a top-four finish in the closing stages of the league phase.