IPL 2026: Starc available for DC’s clash against RR, says bowling coach Munaf Patel
Jaipur, April 30 : Delhi Capitals (DC) bowling coach Munaf Patel confirmed that left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc will be available for selection in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against Rajasthan Royals, to be played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Friday.
Starc was recovering from a shoulder and elbow injury and joined the squad only a couple of days ago. He is now all set to play his first competitive cricket game since January. His presence will boost DC’s bowling line-up, which hasn’t been up to the mark so far.
“He is available from tomorrow. Our best bowler will definitely play, but the final decision will be taken tomorrow. His coming back definitely helps. Fast bowlers who may have struggled in the powerplay will get more support,” Patel said in the pre‑match press conference.
He also underlined the importance of bowlers in the T20 format. “I always say this: a match can be won by batters, but a tournament is won by bowlers. Because if you see, even yesterday, around 250 runs were scored. So obviously, if bowlers bowl well, you can win the tournament. Batters can win you a game, but if you don’t bowl well, you cannot win a tournament. That is something I strongly believe in.”
Reflecting on recent performances, including DC being bowled out for 75 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Patel quashed the notion that batters were nervous in facing Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who wreaked havoc in the Power-play.
“No, we were not nervous. We were playing with a different approach. We wanted to score more runs, but the wicket was doing a bit. They bowled well and took good catches. It is not like if you lose one game, you become nervous in the next game. That is not cricket.”
On the approach in must‑win situations for DC, Patel stressed commitment. “In do-or-die situations, the approach has to be 100 percent. Because you know that if you lose one or two games, you are out of the tournament. So as a unit, you have to give your 100 percent. Otherwise, it becomes very difficult to survive.”
“Our approach will remain the same. We will give our 100 percent and focus on playing good cricket. Whether we bat first or bowl first, the idea is to control the game and minimise mistakes. We will play to win and not think too much about the result.”
Asked about strategy against RR’s power-packed batting line‑up, Patel said, “If I tell you the strategy now, they will be ready tomorrow. So I cannot tell you the strategy. We will focus on bowling well and executing our plans, but I cannot reveal anything here.”
Patel signed off by ruling out sweeping changes in the playing eleven. “There won’t be too many changes. We have experienced and performing players in the squad. Unless there is an injury, I don’t think there will be many changes. It is not like you lose and then you start changing everything.”
Starc was recovering from a shoulder and elbow injury and joined the squad only a couple of days ago. He is now all set to play his first competitive cricket game since January. His presence will boost DC’s bowling line-up, which hasn’t been up to the mark so far.
“He is available from tomorrow. Our best bowler will definitely play, but the final decision will be taken tomorrow. His coming back definitely helps. Fast bowlers who may have struggled in the powerplay will get more support,” Patel said in the pre‑match press conference.
He also underlined the importance of bowlers in the T20 format. “I always say this: a match can be won by batters, but a tournament is won by bowlers. Because if you see, even yesterday, around 250 runs were scored. So obviously, if bowlers bowl well, you can win the tournament. Batters can win you a game, but if you don’t bowl well, you cannot win a tournament. That is something I strongly believe in.”
Reflecting on recent performances, including DC being bowled out for 75 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Patel quashed the notion that batters were nervous in facing Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who wreaked havoc in the Power-play.
“No, we were not nervous. We were playing with a different approach. We wanted to score more runs, but the wicket was doing a bit. They bowled well and took good catches. It is not like if you lose one game, you become nervous in the next game. That is not cricket.”
On the approach in must‑win situations for DC, Patel stressed commitment. “In do-or-die situations, the approach has to be 100 percent. Because you know that if you lose one or two games, you are out of the tournament. So as a unit, you have to give your 100 percent. Otherwise, it becomes very difficult to survive.”
“Our approach will remain the same. We will give our 100 percent and focus on playing good cricket. Whether we bat first or bowl first, the idea is to control the game and minimise mistakes. We will play to win and not think too much about the result.”
Asked about strategy against RR’s power-packed batting line‑up, Patel said, “If I tell you the strategy now, they will be ready tomorrow. So I cannot tell you the strategy. We will focus on bowling well and executing our plans, but I cannot reveal anything here.”
Patel signed off by ruling out sweeping changes in the playing eleven. “There won’t be too many changes. We have experienced and performing players in the squad. Unless there is an injury, I don’t think there will be many changes. It is not like you lose and then you start changing everything.”
