Top 3 Bowlers Who Can Replace Mitchell Starc in Delhi Capitals For IPL 2025

Delhi Capitals suffered a big blow as the Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc decided not to come back for the remaining matches of the IPL 2025 season. It is to be noted that the IPL 2025 was halted midway due to the tensions between India and Pakistan across the border. After the stoppage, a no. of overseas players decided to leave for their respective countries, and Starc was one of them.

While most of the overseas players came back to take part in the remaining games, Starc decided that he wouldn't be coming back for the remaining IPL 2025 season. This has come down as a huge blow to the Capitals' management, who are already dealing with player shortages. DC, who started the tournament brilliantly, are looking to nail the playoffs spot, but Starc's unavailability won't help their cause.

He was their premier fast bowling option and a wicket-taker who has the ability to perform at all the phases of the game. He has an excellent knockout record and is a proven performer in big matches. Now, DC must find a replacement for Starc. Losing such an experienced and talented bowler is not easy. There are a few good options who can take his place. Let's have a look at some of them.

Mitchell Starc Replacements for DC

1. Riley Meredith

Riley Meredith is a right-arm fast bowler from Australia. He has played in the IPL before. He has represented Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in the past seasons of the Indian Premier League. Meredith is known for his raw pace and aggression, and can be lethal with the new ball.
In the recent Big Bash League (BBL), he played for the Hobart Hurricanes.

He picked up 16 wickets in just 10 matches. His bowling average was 20.25, which is very impressive. Meredith may not be a left-arm bowler like Starc, but he can still be very effective. His high speed and experience can help DC in the remaining matches, and he can emerge to become a perfect Mitchell Starc replacement for Delhi Capitals.

2. Tymal Mills

Tymal Mills is an English fast bowler who bowls with his left arm, just like Starc, making him a more direct replacement in terms of bowling style. Mills has played in the IPL before and has experience tonnes of experience of playing in the other T20 leagues around the world. He is a specialist bowler in this format and can be useful for the Capitals. However, his injury-prone nature has often affected his career.
Mills is known for his ability to bowl in the death overs. He has a lot of variation in his bowling. He can bowl yorkers, slower balls, and short deliveries. making him a perfect option in the shortest format of the game. His experience in pressure situations can be very useful for DC. If he is available, Mills could be a great option to replace Starc.

3. Mustafizur Rahman

Mustafizur Rahman is a left-arm fast bowler from Bangladesh. He has already been signed by Delhi Capitals for the IPL 2025 season for INR 6 crore. He has also played for the same franchise in the past, in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, when he picked up a total of nine wickets. Recently, Mustafizur was given an NOC from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to feature in the league phase of IPL 2025.

However, he will be available only for the league phase and not the playoffs, which raises further concerns for the DC management. Mustafizur is likely to feature in all the remaining league games for DC, as he can be a perfect replacement of Mitchell Starc. His bowling style and past experience with the team can be valuable.

Mitchell Starc's Next Assignment

Starc will be next seen in the World Test Championship Final, which is scheduled to be played from June 11-15 at Lord's. Starc has been named in Australia's squad, which will face South Africa in the summit clash. Being one of the premier bowlers for his country, Starc has a big role to play in the WTC final as Australia aim to defend their title.
Starc has been a key player for DC this season. He picked up 14 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 26.14. One of his best performances came against Rajasthan Royals (RR), where he defended just 9 runs in the last over. The match went to a Super Over, and DC won because of his brilliant performance with the ball. Although the Capitals can sign Mitchell Starc replacement, his experience will be missed in the camp.