The Delhi Capitals have been dealt a significant setback ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, with star Australian pacer Mitchell Starc set to miss the initial matches of the tournament.

The IPL 2026 season is scheduled to begin on March 28, and Starc’s absence in the early phase could impact Delhi’s campaign.

Starc’s Absence: What We Know

While the exact number of matches Starc will miss remains unclear, reports suggest that he will sit out the early part of the tournament due to workload management.

Starc was a key signing for Delhi Capitals, having been bought for ₹11.75 crore ahead of IPL 2025, making him one of the team’s premier bowling assets.

Australia’s Workload Management Strategy

According to reports, Cricket Australia is taking a cautious approach with its multi-format fast bowlers, including:

• Mitchell Starc
• Josh Hazlewood
• Pat Cummins

The decision is influenced by a packed international schedule, which includes:

• Multiple Test series against South Africa national cricket team, India national cricket team, and England cricket team
• Up to 21 Test matches in a 12-month period
• Preparation for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, where Australia will defend their ODI title

This long-term planning has led to strict return-to-play protocols for key players.

Delhi Capitals’ Bowling Options

In Starc’s absence, Delhi Capitals will need to rely on their pace attack depth.

Key bowlers likely to step up:

• Lungi Ngidi
• T. Natarajan
• Kyle Jamieson
• Dushmantha Chameera
• Auqib Nabi Dar

While these bowlers bring experience and variety, replacing Starc’s pace, swing, and match-winning ability will be a challenge.

Injury Concerns Across IPL Teams

Delhi Capitals are not alone in dealing with player availability issues ahead of IPL 2026.

Several players across franchises have been affected, including:

• Nathan Ellis
• Sam Curran
• Jack Edwards

This highlights a broader trend of injuries and workload management impacting team preparations.

What This Means for Delhi Capitals

Starc’s absence could have multiple implications:

• Reduced firepower in the powerplay and death overs
• Increased pressure on the remaining bowling unit
• Need for strong starts despite missing key players

However, it also presents an opportunity for other bowlers to step up and prove their impact early in the season.

Looking Ahead

The Delhi Capitals will aim to navigate the early matches carefully and stay competitive until Starc returns.

If managed well, the team could still build momentum and remain strong contenders in IPL 2026 once their star pacer rejoins the squad.

Former South Africa star AB de Villiers has expressed strong confidence in Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), backing the franchise to successfully defend their title in IPL 2026.

RCB made history last season by winning their first-ever Indian Premier League trophy after 18 years, and according to De Villiers, the team now has the right balance and mindset to continue their winning run.

“RCB Can Go All the Way Again”

Speaking about the team’s chances, De Villiers highlighted that RCB are no longer overly dependent on their star batter Virat Kohli.

“Virat can feel that he is not the only one carrying the load anymore. He has a squad of fighters around him… I think they are in a really good place,” De Villiers said.

He emphasized that the squad has remained largely unchanged, which adds to their stability and confidence going into the new season.

According to him, this continuity gives RCB a strong chance to “go all the way again” in IPL 2026.

A Stronger, More Balanced Squad

De Villiers pointed out that one of the biggest positives for RCB is the depth and resilience within the squad.

• Multiple match-winners across batting and bowling
• Reduced pressure on key players like Kohli
• Improved team confidence after winning the title

This shift from a star-dependent team to a well-rounded unit could be crucial in defending their championship.

“RCB Can Build a Winning Dynasty”

De Villiers also recalled Virat Kohli’s long-standing belief that once RCB wins one title, more could follow.

“If we can win one, we are going to win two, three, four quickly.”

Now that RCB has broken its title drought, De Villiers believes the team is entering a phase where they can dominate the league consistently.

He suggested that RCB could become a regular title contender and potentially build a mini-dynasty in the IPL.

High Expectations from Virat Kohli

All eyes will once again be on Virat Kohli, who is set to return to action in IPL 2026 after a break from international cricket.

Kohli last played during the ODI series against the New Zealand national cricket team in January and has since stepped away from Tests and T20Is.

Despite the gap, De Villiers dismissed concerns about Kohli’s form or fitness.

“He has the best work ethic I have ever seen in my life. He will not come into the tournament undercooked.”

He added that any dip in performance would likely be due to form or minor technical adjustments, not lack of preparation.

IPL 2026: A Big Season Ahead

The upcoming season of the Indian Premier League is set to begin on March 28, 2026, with RCB entering the tournament as defending champions.

With:

• A settled squad
• Renewed confidence
• Strong leadership

RCB will aim to repeat their historic success and establish themselves as one of the league’s dominant teams.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan sparked debate after criticizing the South Africa national cricket team following India’s triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Vaughan suggested that South Africa made a strategic mistake during the Super 8 stage, claiming their victory over the West Indies cricket team indirectly helped the India national cricket team stay in the tournament and eventually win the title.

India Clinches Third T20 World Cup Title

India produced a dominant campaign throughout the tournament, losing only one match before reaching the final. In the summit clash, the Men in Blue defeated the New Zealand national cricket team to successfully defend their T20 World Cup title.

With this victory, India secured their third T20 World Cup trophy, reinforcing their position as one of the strongest teams in the shortest format of the game.

The team’s consistent performances across the tournament, strong bowling attack, and tactical leadership played a major role in their title-winning run.

Vaughan’s Controversial Comment on South Africa

Speaking on the “Stick to Cricket” podcast, Vaughan argued that South Africa’s victory against West Indies in the Super 8 stage ultimately worked against them.

According to Vaughan, if South Africa had lost that match, India would have been eliminated earlier from the tournament, preventing their dominant run to the title.

“I tell you who I think is the stupidest team of the tournament? South Africa. Because if South Africa had allowed West Indies to beat them in the Super 8s, India would have been knocked out,” Vaughan said.

He added that South Africa’s win allowed India to continue their campaign, which then gathered unstoppable momentum.

India’s Path to the Title

After surviving the Super 8 stage, India continued their winning run with key victories against:

• Zimbabwe national cricket team
• West Indies cricket team
• England cricket team

These wins eventually led them to the final against New Zealand, where they sealed the championship.

Vaughan described India’s progress through the tournament as a “juggernaut” that became difficult to stop once momentum built up.

Jasprit Bumrah Shines in the Final

Despite his criticism of South Africa, Vaughan had high praise for India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who delivered a match-winning performance in the final.

Bumrah took four crucial wickets in the title clash, helping India restrict New Zealand and secure victory.

Vaughan also highlighted how India used Bumrah strategically during the tournament.

“Usually you expect someone like Bumrah to bowl two overs in the powerplay and two at the end. But India use him as an insurance policy,” Vaughan explained.

The flexible use of Bumrah’s bowling spells allowed India to control crucial phases of matches, making him one of the most influential players in the tournament.

Strategic Depth Behind India’s Success

India’s T20 World Cup triumph was built on several factors:

• Smart bowling rotations
• Strong leadership and tactical decisions
• Consistent performances from key players
• Ability to handle high-pressure knockout matches

Bumrah’s performance, combined with India’s balanced squad, proved decisive in their successful title defence.