Massive Blow for Delhi Capitals, Mitchell Starc & Faf du Plessis Pull Out of IPL 2025

Mitchell Starc, who is currently DC’s highest wicket-taker this season with 14 wickets from 11 matches, has opted out to prepare for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final.

The left-arm pacer will now directly gear up for the big clash against South Africa at Lord’s, starting June 11. Starc has played a key role in Delhi’s bowling unit this season, and his absence will leave a big gap in their pace attack.

Du Plessis, Ferreira also unavailable

Faf du Plessis, who began the season with DC, will also not return. He had missed a few games earlier due to injury, though no details were made public.

The former South African skipper scored 168 runs in six innings, including two fifties. Donovan Ferreira, who featured in only one match this season and scored just 1 run, has also opted out.

With du Plessis out and Jake Fraser-McGurk also deciding not to rejoin, Delhi’s opening combination is now unclear. The team may turn to Karun Nair, KL Rahul, or Abishek Porel to take up the role in the remaining group-stage matches.

Overseas player shortage for DC

Delhi Capitals now face a major shortage of overseas options. Tristan Stubbs has confirmed his return, but only for the rest of the league stage before heading off for the WTC final. Mustafizur Rahman, brought in as a replacement for Fraser-McGurk, is yet to receive a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Bangladesh Cricket Board and is currently in Sharjah for a T20I series.

Apart from Stubbs (temporarily), DC’s only overseas players available are Sediqullah Atal (replacement for Harry Brook) and Dushmantha Chameera. This leaves the team with very few choices going into the crucial final matches.

Delhi Capitals will resume their campaign against Gujarat Titans at home on May 18, after the tournament restarts on May 17.