Mitchell Starc can come before the first match also, says Delhi Capitals' skipper Axar Patel

Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Axar Patel has confirmed that the team is waiting for Cricket Australia to grant ace pacer Mitchell Starc a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to compete at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. 

Quite recently, it came to the fore that the experienced left-arm seamer would arrive late for his stint with DC in the IPL, with Cricket Australia managing his workload ahead of a very busy international calendar. 

Axar has stated that should Starc be granted a NOC on time, the left-arm seamer can participate in DC’s opening game of the season. The team from the capital city plays their first game away against the Lucknow Super Giants on April 01. Axar has also clarified that should Starc not be available for the opening stages of the IPL, there is no obligation to replace him with yet another left-arm seamer in the form of T. Natarajan if it hampers the balance of the team. 

"It is tough to answer that at this stage. If Starc gets NOC, he can come before the first match also. We are waiting for that update. If he doesn't come there is no temptation to replace a left arm pacer with a left arm pacer. It is about team combination. Having said that, Natajaran is doing really well and is 100 percent fit,” Axar said at the press conference as quoted by NDTV.

DC head coach Hemang Badani also confirmed that Starc is fit and has been bowling in the nets. However, the franchise’s hands are tied until they have a positive update from Starc's national cricket board for obtaining the clearance to feature in the cash-rich tournament. 

“We are waiting to get the NOC from Cricket Australia. Once we get that, we will know when he will join us. "We are in constant touch with CA. He has been bowling, he bowled a few days back. Unless Cricket Australia signs off on him that he is fit to play, there is little a franchise can do." Badani told.

Starc will be a huge miss for DC ahead of the 2026 IPL season. The left-hander took 14 wickets from 11 matches in his debut campaign at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. DC, however, does have overseas replacements for the Australian in the form of Lungi Ngidi and Dushmantha Chameera.