Australia’s star pacer Mitchell Starc is expected to miss at least three more matches for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2026, TOI reported on Tuesday (April 7).

According to the report, Starc is currently managing a shoulder and elbow injury back home, with his participation unlikely until at least April 20.

Before that, the Capitals are slated to face Gujarat Titans on April 8, Chennai Super Kings on April 11 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 18.

Despite his absence, DC have managed to win their first two games against Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians, using a bowling unit featuring Mukesh Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, T Natarajan, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam.

Starc's addition will only bolster their bowling attack, and the left-arm quick continues to stay in touch with the DC management.

Earlier, Starc publicly hit back at "misinformed" media reports questioning his commitment, clarifying that his absence is strictly medical and he remains fully committed to joining DC as soon as he is fit.

"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, the extent of which I didn't know during the Australian summer. These individuals have made some strong statements around involvement in the IPL and provided heavily misinformed opinions of players, preached them as facts, and claimed to know my body better than me," Starc wrote on his Instagram story last month.

"With that said, I do acknowledge this injury setback and that the timing is disruptive to the Delhi team, and I apologise for that and to the fans for not being available for the early part of this season. I remain committed to joining DC, am in continual communication with the team, and will continue to do what I can to be available for DC as soon as possible," he added.

(With TOI Inputs)