Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has officially withdrawn from the remainder of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), deciding not to return to India to rejoin his team, Delhi Capitals (DC).
Starc made this decision a week after taking part in the rain-abandoned match in Dharamsala, which is set to be replayed. According to reports, Starc has informed Delhi Capitals that he will be unavailable for the rest of the tournament.
This season, Starc has been Delhi’s top wicket-taker with 14 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 26.14. His early exit now allows him uninterrupted time to prepare for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Adding to Delhi’s challenges, promising Australian batsman Jake Fraser-McGurk has also opted out of the remainder of the IPL season. Purchased for INR 9 crore (approximately USD 1.07 million) during the mega auction, Fraser-McGurk confirmed he will not return for the second half of the competition.
To fill the void, Delhi Capitals have signed Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman for INR 6 crore. However, Rahman’s availability remains uncertain, as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has stated it has not yet been approached for a No Objection Certificate (NOC). Mustafizur is currently playing in a T20I series against the UAE in Sharjah.
Meanwhile, South African batter Tristan Stubbs has confirmed his return to Delhi Capitals but will only be available for the remaining league matches before leaving for the WTC final.
There is still no word on whether Faf du Plessis will rejoin the squad.
Across the IPL, several Australian players are making individual decisions about their participation. Pat Cummins and Travis Head will rejoin Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)—a team already out of playoff contention—which ends its campaign on May 25. This will give both players ample time to prepare for the WTC final.
On the injury front, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Josh Hazlewood is currently monitoring a shoulder issue before deciding on a return, while wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis has yet to confirm his plans with Punjab Kings (PBKS).
