New Delhi: In a significant blow to Delhi Capitals’ playoff ambitions, Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has informed the franchise that he will not return to India for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. The decision comes a week after Starc featured in DC’s rain-abandoned fixture in Dharamsala, which is now set to be replayed.
Starc, who has been Delhi’s leading wicket-taker this season with 14 wickets in 11 games at an average of 26.14, will now shift his focus to the World Test Championship (WTC) final, ensuring he avoids playing high-intensity T20s in India just days before the marquee Test event.
Alongside Starc, South African all-rounder Donovan Ferreira, who made only a single appearance this season, has also opted not to return for the rest of the tournament.
The development adds further uncertainty to Delhi’s already-shaky campaign. With three league games remaining, the Rishabh Pant-led side is battling for a spot in the top four.
Stubbs Returns, Fraser-McGurk Out
South African big-hitter Tristan Stubbs has confirmed his return to the Delhi Capitals but will only be available for the remaining league stage matches. Like Starc, Stubbs will leave early to join the South African squad for the WTC final preparation.
In another roster update, Jake Fraser-McGurk, the young Australian sensation who turned heads with his explosive batting earlier in the season, will also not be returning to India. Mustafizur Rahman has been named as his replacement. However, the Bangladesh pacer’s availability remains uncertain, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) stating they haven’t yet been approached for a No Objection Certificate (NOC). Mustafizur is currently in Sharjah, representing Bangladesh in a T20I series against the UAE.
Australian Players Weigh Options
Meanwhile, several other Australian players are in various stages of decision-making regarding their IPL participation post-suspension:
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Pat Cummins and Travis Head will return to join Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), despite the team being out of playoff contention. SRH’s final league fixture is on May 25, giving both players a comfortable lead-up to the WTC final.
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Josh Hazlewood, who plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), is nursing a minor shoulder niggle and will assess his fitness before deciding on his return.
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Josh Inglis is yet to confirm whether he will rejoin Punjab Kings (PBKS).
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Mitchell Marsh is expected to rejoin Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for their final push toward playoff qualification.
As teams reshuffle their combinations to accommodate absentees and returnees, Delhi Capitals will have to recalibrate their strategy quickly if they are to make a strong finish in IPL 2025.
