Why is Mitchell Starc not playing DC vs GT IPL 2025 match? Check DC playing 11

The crucial news coming in is that Delhi Capitals (DC) will miss the services of their premier speedster Mitchell Starc for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season. Delhi Capitals are hosting the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 60th game of the tournament at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Things have not been very easy for the Axar Patel-led DC team recently in the ongoing edition of the IPL as they have suffered back-to-bacl defeats. In the current scenario, Delhi Capitals need to win two out of their remaining three matches in order to qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs. 

Why is Mitchell Starc not playing today's DC vs GT IPL 2025 match?

Earlier this week, Cricket Australia (CA) officially announced that senior left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc will not be returning to be part of the Delhi Capitals squad for the remainder of the Indian Premier League 2025 season due to personal reasons. The Aussie speedster had to fly back home when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended the competition for a week due to the India-Pakistan escalation on the borders. It is being reported that Starc is not fully comfortable to visit India again amidst the tensed situation. 

Mitchell Starc's absence is a massive blow for the Delhi Capitals as he has been a vital clog in their bowling attack so far during this season. The left-arm Aussie pacer had picked up as many as 14 wickets from 11 matches in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025 season at an economy of 10.17. The Delhi Capitals are yet to announcement a replacement for Mitchell Starc. 

On the other hand, Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel mentioned during the toss that they have included Bangladesh's left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the DC playing 11 for this game against Gujarat Titans on Sunday. Rahman has picked up a total of 61 wickets from as many as 58 IPL matches so far at an economy of 8.14. 

Mitch Starc has decided against returning to the IPL after the tournament's postponement: https://t.co/5p3zdSkD4E pic.twitter.com/cp6VPn7eVJ

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) May 16, 2025

"We too wanted to bowl first, but we'll now looks to post a good total. We're taking one game at a time, not thinking too far ahead, not thinking too much about qualificiation, just taking it one at a time. I respect his personal decision (on Starc), but I want players to be 100% fit, just thinkabout the plans. The same combination - three pacers and three spinners, Vipraj Nigam replaces Madhav Tiwari, Mustafizur replaces Starc," stated Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel during the toss.

DC Playing 11

Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, Sameer Rizvi, KL Rahul(w), Axar Patel(c), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mustafizur Rahman.

Delhi Capitals Impact Subs: Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Karun Nair, Sediqullah Atal, Dushmantha Chameera

DC IPL 2025 Squad

Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul(w), Axar Patel(c), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav, Dushmantha Chameera, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, Mustafizur Rahman, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Darshan Nalkande, Sediqullah Atal, Sameer Rizvi, Donovan Ferreira, Tripurana Vijay, Manvanth Kumar L, Madhav Tiwari