IPL 2026: Is Mitchell Starc playing in RR vs DC Match 43?

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) take on the Delhi Capitals (DC) in Match 43 of the 2026 Indian Premier League at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Friday, May 1. Both sides come into the game on the back of contrasting forms. The hosts secured a win over the table-toppers, Punjab Kings, in their previous fixture, while DC have lost three games on the trot, being comprehensively beaten by defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru last time around. 

RR vs DC: Toss Update

RR captain Riyan Parag won the toss and decided to go against the norm to bat first. The right-handed batter suggested that the pitch is not the usual Jaipur pitch, suggesting it is on a drier side, and thus wants to set the target against their opposition. DC captain Axar Patel, however, claimed that he wanted to bowl first anyway and aims to restrict the 2008 champions to a manageable total to chase down in the second innings. 

DC vs PBKS: Mitchell Starc returns to the playing XI

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc comes in to play his first game of the 2026 IPL season as he finds himself back in the playing XI in place of Sri Lankan seamer Dushmantha Chameera. The left-arm seamer is playing his first professional game since representing the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League back in January. The 36-year-old took 14 wickets for DC last time around and will, for the first time, lead his side's bowling unit alongside New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson. 

RR vs DC: What did the captains say?

Riyan Parag, RR captain,

"We're going to bat first. I think it's not the usual Jaipur wicket. It's a bit dry; we noticed that yesterday and the pitch played a little faster on the other day. So hopefully it gets a little slow in the back end, so that's why we're batting first. (On the win against Punjab Kings) I think the middle order and lower order finishing it like the way they did and the openers as usual starting really brilliantly. But as a collective team effort, chasing down 220 always helps. Everyone's stepping up. That has been the motto, like, as I was saying, we haven't been playing proper and complete cricket for 40 overs. Hopefully we can narrow it down as the tournament reaches the business end. Another show today and we can rest for a few days. Bishnoi comes back in and Shubham is into the main team."

Axar Patel, DC captain,

"Starc is playing, Chameera isn't playing. Pathum is playing, which means David Miller sits out. Ashok Sharma is there, so there are three changes. We have three changes, the wicket looks good and we're happy to chase. It's important to return to basics. You need to stay in the present to turn things around, focus on the positives. Attitude and body language are very important."

DC vs PBKS: Playing XIs

Rajasthan Royals:

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma

Delhi Capitals:

KL Rahul (WK), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), Ashutosh Sharma, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan