Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani has taken a subtle dig at Cricket Australia over the delayed availability of premier fast bowler Mitchell Starc in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
The DC head coach made strong remarks after Mitchell Starc delivered a match-winning performance for Delhi Capitals in the 62nd match of IPL 2026 against Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Mitchell Starc joined the Delhi Capitals very late
Mitchell Starc linked up with the Delhi Capitals squad very late in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026 after Cricket Australia delayed clearing him for the tournament due to his injury issues.
The Australia National Cricket Team pace spearhead missed the initial phase of IPL 2026 and only made his first appearance for Delhi Capitals on May 1 against Rajasthan Royals.
Notably, Cricket Australia had been carefully managing Mitchell Starc's workload following the hectic international schedule.
Despite missing several matches, Starc quickly made an impact after joining the Delhi Capitals camp, and his return came as a massive boost for Delhi Capitals, who were struggling for consistency in the bowling department.
Hemang Badani fires shots at Cricket Australia over Mitchell Starc's availability
Speaking after the Delhi Capitals' victory over the Rajasthan Royals, Hemang Badani admitted that he ideally wanted Starc available from the very beginning of IPL 2026.
The Delhi Capitals head coach also pointed out that franchises have very little control when cricket boards decide to restrict player availability.
“Ideally, I would want my players to be available to me from day one. And Starc is probably one of my biggest players in my squad, and we've invested in him, and we know that he's a match winner,” Hemang Badani said.
“Certain things that are decided by associations and governing bodies, there's very little that we can do. Because if Cricket Australia does not release him there's little a coach or any franchise can do,” he added.
Meanwhile, in the match against the Rajasthan Royals, the veteran left-arm pacer finished with sensational figures of 4/40 and played a massive role in Delhi Capitals' win.
His preparation before the game with his own plans and his training are above par - Hemang Badani praises Mitchell Starc
Hemang Badani also lavished rich praise on Mitchell Starc and hailed him as one of the best role models in world cricket.
“His work ethic, his preparation before the game with his own plans and his training are above par. I don't even see that with a lot of the younger boys, that's the reason why he has sustained for so long,” Hemang Badani said at the press conference.
“If you go back and see the recent Ashes series, he single-handedly won them the Ashes - there was no Pat Cummins, there was no Josh Hazlewood; that pretty much tells you what that man can do,” he added.
Hemang Badani further revealed how Mitchell Starc has been mentoring the younger bowlers in the Delhi Capitals camp and constantly sharing his knowledge with them.
“Speaking of the kind of work that he puts in with the younger lads: he's always talking to them, he's always trying to pass on the knowledge - how can you do reverse swing, how do I hold lengths, what do I do when a certain batter is going hard; do I look to pick wickets or do I look to try and be submissive and be defensive. There's immense conversation that Starcy brings to the table,” Hemang Badani stated.
Despite joining the tournament late, Starc has already emerged as one of the Delhi Capitals' best performers in IPL 2026. The Australian pacer has played five matches so far in the tournament and picked up nine wickets.
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