Starc not to rejoin DC for remainder of IPL 2025

Mitchell Starc has decided against flying back to India for the remainder of IPL 2025 for Delhi Capitals (DC). AAP understands that a week after being part of the match that was abandoned in Dharamsala - and will be replayed - Starc has told the franchise that he wouldn't be finishing the league. Donovan Ferreira, who played one game this season, will also not be returning.

The update means that Starc will have a clear runway into the World Test Championship (WTC) final, avoiding the possibility of playing T20s in India a week before the match. Starc is DC's highest wicket-taker so far in the season with 14 wickets in 11 matches at 26.14.

There is still no confirmation on whether Faf du Plessis would be returning to DC, while Tristan Stubbs has confirmed his return, but only for the rest of the league phase, after which he would be leaving for the WTC final.

DC have also signed Mustafizur Rahman</a> as a replacement for Jake Fraser-McGurk, who isn't returning to India. However, there is a bit of uncertainty over Mustafizur's participation, since the BCB has stated that it hadn't been approached for a non-objection certificate for the cricketer, who is in Sharjah currently to play in a T20I series against UAE.

Of the other Australians at the IPL, Pat Cummins and Travis Head are both returning to India to link up with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who are out of the running for the playoffs and finish their engagements for the season on May 25, which will give both players enough time to prepare for the WTC final.

Josh Hazlewood will assess a niggling shoulder injury before determining whether to go back to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for their title tilt. Josh Inglis has, meanwhile, held off a decision on his plans to return for Punjab Kings (PBKS), while Mitchell Marsh will be back for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).