India, March 28 -- Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has hit back at critics over his absence from the early phase of IPL 2026. The left-arm quick is yet to arrive in India and will miss Delhi Capitals' opening matches, sparking debate around overseas players' commitment, with Sunil Gavaskar among those voicing concerns. Addressing the speculation, Starc clarified that he is recovering from an elbow injury picked up during the Australian summer. Cricket Australia have already announced that the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins will miss the early stages of the tournament due to workload management.

Meanwhile, his absence sparked widespread discussion among fans, with many questioning his commitment. Former A...