'Misinformed opinions': Mitchell Starc hits back at critics over delayed IPL arrival
Mitchell Starc clarifies his absence from early Indian Premier League 2026 games. An elbow injury delayed his arrival for Delhi Capitals. Starc stated the injury extent became clear after the Australian summer.
He is rehabbing and managing the issue. Starc reaffirms his commitment to Delhi Capitals and apologizes for the disruption.
Mitchell Starc has responded strongly to criticism surrounding his absence from the early phase of Indian Premier League 2026, confirming that an elbow injury has delayed his arrival in India. The left-arm quick is set to miss the opening games for Delhi Capitals, triggering debate around the commitment of overseas players. Among those raising concerns were former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and former India batter Aakash Chopra.
However, Starc clarified that the decision was injury-driven, with Cricket Australia already confirming that he, along with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, would miss the initial phase of the tournament due to workload management. His absence also sparked discussion among fans, with questions raised about his availability. Alyssa Healy, Starc’s wife, addressed the issue via Instagram, indicating that he is currently recovering from injury.
Breaking his silence, Starc pushed back against the narrative around his absence, revealing that the extent of his injury became clear only after the Australian summer. "Despite the opinions and views of certain individuals with their platforms in and through the Indian media, I’m currently rehabbing and managing an injury in my shoulder and elbow of which I didn’t know the extent of during the Australian summer," Starc stated. He also criticised what he described as inaccurate commentary around his situation.