Mitchell Starc The Indian Premier League has responded strongly to criticism of his absence from the opening leg of 2026, confirming that an elbow injury has delayed his arrival in India.The left-arm pacer is set to miss Delhi Capitals’ opening games, sparking a debate over the commitment of overseas players. Former India captains were among those who expressed concerns. Sunil Gavaskar and former Indian batsman Akash Chopra.
However, Starc clarified that the decision was due to injury, with Cricket Australia having already confirmed that he, Josh Hazlewood and Pat CumminsWill miss the early stages of the tournament due to workload management.His absence also sparked debate among fans, with questions raised over his availability. Stark’s wife Alyssa Haley addressed the issue via Instagram, revealing that she is currently recovering from the injury.Breaking his silence, Starc pushed back against the narrative surrounding his absence, revealing that the extent of his injury only became apparent after the Australian summer.
Stark Insta Story
“Despite the opinions and views of some in the Indian media and with their platforms, I am currently rehabilitating and managing an injury to my shoulder and elbow that I did not know the extent of during the Australian summer,” Starc said.He also criticized what he called a false comment about his situation.“These individuals have made some harsh statements about joining the IPL and have given a lot of false information about the players, presented them as facts, and claimed to know my body better than I do,” he added.
Starc confirmed his commitment to Delhi Capitals.
Despite the setback, Starc reiterated his commitment to the franchise and apologized for not participating in the early part of the season.“With that I recognize that the shock and timing of this injury is troubling for the Delhi team and I apologize to him and the fans for not being available for the early part of this season. I am committed to joining DC, constantly updating the team and doing what I can to be available for DC as soon as possible.”
