IPL 2026, RR vs DC: Will Mitchell Starc play today? Munaf Patel drops big hint

NEW DELHI: There is yet immoderate bully quality for Delhi Capitals up of their important IPL 2026 clash against Rajasthan Royals — and it revolves astir the much-anticipated instrumentality of Mitchell Starc.Delhi’s bowling manager Munaf Patel confirmed that the left-arm speedy is disposable for enactment aft recovering from injury, though stopped abbreviated of guaranteeing his spot successful the playing XI.“He is disposable from tomorrow. Our champion bowler volition decidedly play, but the last determination volition beryllium taken tomorrow. His coming backmost decidedly helps,” Munaf said connected the eve of the lucifer astatine the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.Starc’s instrumentality a timely boost for struggling attackStarc, who was sidelined with enarthrosis and elbow issues, lone rejoined the squad precocious and is acceptable to diagnostic successful his archetypal competitory crippled since January.

His inclusion could not travel astatine a amended clip for DC, whose bowling portion has struggled for consistency this season.Munaf emphasised however important a beardown bowling onslaught is successful T20 cricket, particularly successful high-scoring conditions.“I ever accidental this: a lucifer tin beryllium won by batters, but a tourney is won by bowlers. If bowlers vessel well, you tin triumph the tournament. Batters tin triumph you a game, but without bully bowling, you cannot triumph consistently,” helium asserted.

With Starc apt to regenerate 1 of the overseas pacers, DC volition anticipation his acquisition adds control, peculiarly successful the powerplay wherever they person often leaked runs.

‘No panic’: Munaf backs attack contempt caller setbacksDC caput into the contention aft a turbulent run, including being bowled retired for conscionable 75 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, Munaf dismissed suggestions that the batting portion was rattled.“No, we were not nervous. We were playing with a antithetic approach. The wicket was doing a bit, and they bowled well. It is not similar if you suffer 1 game, you go tense successful the adjacent game,” helium said.The DC person had a rollercoaster run truthful far, swinging betwixt a 250-plus full successful 1 lucifer and a batting illness successful the next. With 3 wins and 4 losses, they find themselves successful a must-win phase.“In do-or-die situations, the attack has to beryllium 100 percent.

You cognize if you suffer 1 oregon 2 games, you are out. So arsenic a unit, you person to springiness everything,” Munaf added.Strategy nether wraps arsenic DC purpose turnaroundFacing a assured RR broadside boasting in-form batters similar Yashasvi Jaiswal and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, DC volition request to beryllium astatine their best.Munaf, however, kept tactical plans adjacent to his chest. “If I archer you the strategy now, they volition beryllium acceptable tomorrow,” helium said with a smile.He besides ruled retired sweeping changes to the lineup. “There won’t beryllium excessively galore changes. We person experienced players. It’s not similar you suffer and commencement changing everything.”