Watch: Mitchell Starc impresses with double-wicket over in RR vs DC IPL 2026 clash

The Delhi Capitals (DC) missed the services of the left-arm pacer, Mitchell Starc, towards the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 before marking his return into the game during the clash between the Rajasthan Royals and the Delhi Capitals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. 

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Mitchell Starc didn’t get the best reception as his very first ball of the fixture was belted into the stands by Yashasvi Jaiswal. It was not an easy return for the left-arm pacer, who had been playing his first competitive game after nearly four months since the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025/26.

Mitchell Starc’s double-wicket over dents RR in IPL 2026

Starc, despite being hit for the six, was luckily able to draw the blood with the wicket of Jaiswal. It was a low full toss into the leg stump of the left-handed batter, who got the ball at the high portion of the blade as it went high in the air before the bowler himself completed the easy catch.

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He returned in his third over of the game and was smashed for a cheeky boundary by Ravindra Jadeja, who played it close to his body and cut it late to the right of the short third man as the fielder dived and let the ball go under him. 

On the second legal delivery of the over, the Australian pacer took his revenge with Jadeja’s wicket as the southpaw didn’t find any pace and dabbed the short ball outside the off stump into the hands of the third man fielder.

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A ball later, the left-arm fast bowler bagged the massive wicket of Riyan Parag, who was showering the flurry of boundaries for his 90 runs in 49 balls. The right-handed batter played the lofted on-drive with the ball holding up a bit, and went high in the air before the DC captain completed the simple catch. 

RR finishes with 225/6 in first innings

Parag was fantastic at the top order for his 90 runs off 50 balls at a strike rate of 180, thanks to eight boundaries and five sixes, while Jadeja played a small knock of 22 runs in 14 balls with one boundary and one six.

But the most vital contribution for the Royals came through Donovan Ferriera’s bat. The right-handed batter ended with an unbeaten 47 runs in 14 balls at a strike rate of 335.71, thanks to six over boundaries and a pair of boundaries. Rajasthan Royals finished with 225/6 in their allotted 20 overs of the batting. 

Brief Scores (at the time of writing): DC 146/1 (Pathum Nissanka 62, R Jadeja 1/33) vs RR 225/6 (Riyan Parag 90, D Ferreira 47*, M Starc 3/40)

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Fans react to Starc’s strong return in IPL 2026

Here is how the fans reacted to Starc’s first game of the IPL 2026 season-