DC Get Starc Lift for Playoff Chase vs Royals

Available: Mitchell Starc set to play his first IPL 2026 game vs RR on Friday, May 1 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium Cleared: Cricket Australia cleared him after recovering from shoulder + elbow injury. Joined DC squad 2 days ago Last game: Hasn’t played competitive cricket since January 5, 2026DC debut season: Played for DC in IPL 2025, took 14 wickets in 11 games. Bought for Rs 11.75 crore. DC, too, need this boost desperately. They are on a three-match losing streak and were bowled out for 75 in their previous outing against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Apart from that, they have struggled to create impact with the new ball and have picked up just seven wickets in the powerplay this season, the joint-fewest along with Kolkata Knight Riders. For comparison, RR, the best team in that phase, have taken 21. Jofra Archer alone has picked up nine. Beyond numbers, Starc against RR's belligerent opening pair of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal should be a mouth-watering contest. Form: DC 7th on table, 3 wins/4 losses from 8 games. Lost 3 in a row, including bowled out for 75 vs RCB. Powerplay woes: Just 7 powerplay wickets all season — joint-fewest with KKR. RR have 21, Jofra Archer alone has 9Recent struggles: Lost to CSK by 103 runs, their heaviest defeat. Earlier gave up world-record 265 chase vs DC Coach Munaf Patel: “Our best bowler will definitely play... Fast bowlers who may have struggled in the powerplay will get more support. New-ball threat: “Ability to pick up wickets with new ball and bowl toe-crushing yorkers at the back end” Powerplay fix: DC need early wickets vs RR’s “fearless” openers Vaibhav Sooryavanshi + Yashasvi Jaiswal High-pressure specialist: Won Super Over vs RR earlier this season, Player of Match. Bowled death overs to tie game at 188Experience: Bowling coach: “A match can be won by batters, but a tournament is won by bowlers. Jofra Archer has been at his fiery best this season, especially in the powerplay. Four times he has taken a wicket in his first over of the match, including three times off the very first ball. Only once has he gone wicketless in the powerplay. Given what happened in DC's previous game, their batters will be vary of the Archer threat. Bottom line: DC are 7th, reeling after 75 all out, and face in-form RR. Starc’s return gives them their “best bowler” and a powerplay weapon they’ve lacked. If he fires vs Jaiswal/Sooryavanshi, DC can “rescue season”. If not, RR’s top order could extend DC’s misery. The match will be played on pitch no. 4. In the last three night games played on this particular pitch in the IPL, teams batting first scored 196 for 3, 217 for 2 and 206 for 8. Two of those ended in losing causes. So expect another high-scoring game.