Mitchell Starc’s IPL 2027 availability in doubt: Could he face a two-season ban and will Delhi Capitals release him before mini-auction? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Mitchell Starc is undecided on IPL 2027 because Australia’s Test schedule is extremely demanding.
- A withdrawal after being bought at auction could bring a two-season BCCI ban.
- Delhi Capitals must decide before November 15 whether to release or retain him.
Mitchell Starc doubtful for IPL 2027: Delhi Capitals retention status, BCCI ban rule and Australia schedule
Mitchell Starc’s availability for IPL 2027 is far from certain, and the Australian fast bowler’s final decision is likely to rest on how well he can fit franchise cricket around a punishing run of Test matches.
According to a report in CODE Sports, Starc is yet to make a final call on playing in the next edition of the tournament. His choice will reportedly depend on how he balances franchise commitments with what Australia need from him.
The national team’s red-ball calendar is expected to carry most of the weight. Starc has never hidden his preference for Test cricket, even when it has meant turning down large sums of money.
Starc has played 30 Tests in a row since the Lord’s Test in 2023, holding his place in the attack while Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have gone through spells of injury and workload management. He also retired from T20 internationals to preserve his body for Australia’s red-ball assignments.
Why Starc skipped the IPL between 2016 and 2023?
The left-armer stayed away from the league for eight seasons, a period in which he is estimated to have given up US$10 million or more in potential franchise earnings.
He has stood by his decision and has said he would not swap those nine years, during which he could rest, recover mentally and spend time with his wife, Alyssa Healy. He returned to the IPL in 2024 and has since turned out for Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals.
Starc has taken 76 wickets in 58 IPL matches, with best figures of 5/35, a bowling average of 22.72 and an economy rate of 8.78. His reported IPL earnings total ₹77.65 crore, and his highest listed salary was ₹24.75 crore with Kolkata in 2024.
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Australia Test schedule 2026 to 2027: South Africa, India, the 150th Anniversary Test and the Ashes
To understand his dilemma, it helps to look at the calendar. Australia face an unrelenting run of red-ball cricket that begins with the current series in South Africa and leads into the historic 150th Anniversary Test and the 2027 Ashes in England.
If Australia reach the World Test Championship final, their leading players could face an even tighter turnaround before the Ashes, and a warm-up match against England Lions is listed ahead of the series, depending on their participation in the final.
The IPL normally finishes before the English summer begins, so the Ashes wouldn’t automatically rule Starc out. However, the need to arrive in England fresh for five demanding Tests could push him, and other Australian players, to cut back on franchise cricket.
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| Series / tour | Opponent | Window / dates | Format / venues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia tour of South Africa (ongoing) | South Africa | October 2026 | 3 Tests (Durban, Gqeberha, Cape Town) |
| Home summer 2026-27 | New Zealand | December 2026 to January 2027 | 3 Tests (Perth, Melbourne, Sydney) |
| Australia tour of India | India | February to March 2027 | 4 Tests (subcontinent venues) |
| 150th Anniversary Test | England | March 2027 | 1 standalone Test (MCG, Melbourne) |
| ICC World Test Championship final | To be decided | June 9-13, 2027 | 1 Test (The Oval, London) |
| The Ashes (away) | England | June 18 to August 2, 2027 | 5 Tests: Trent Bridge (June 18-22), Lord's (June 30-July 4), Edgbaston (July 8-12), Southampton (July 21-25), The Oval (July 29-August 2) |
Could Mitchell Starc face a two-season IPL ban?
Under the BCCI’s player regulations, any player who registers for an auction, gets bought and then makes himself unavailable before the tournament, without an injury or medical reason, faces a two-season ban from the IPL and its auctions.
The outcome for Starc therefore depends on timing. If Delhi Capitals release him before the November 15 deadline, he doesn’t enter the auction pool, doesn’t get picked and doesn’t trigger any penalty, so he would simply sit out the season.
If the franchise retains him, or he enters the auction and is bought, and then pulls out in March 2027, the ban would apply immediately, keeping him out of the league until 2029.
Delhi Capitals should release Starc unless he commits now
Starc’s record shows a player who knows exactly what he wants, and the evidence points to Test cricket staying at the top of his list. A calendar that includes India away, a one-off 150th Anniversary Test and a five-match Ashes series leaves very little room for a full IPL season, whatever his intentions may be today.
That puts Delhi Capitals in an awkward position. Holding a pace slot and ₹11.75 crore for a player who hasn’t confirmed his availability is a gamble, particularly when the penalty for a late withdrawal falls on the player rather than on the franchise.
However, the team would still lose a proven wicket-taker, and his 2025 figures of 14 wickets in 11 games show how useful he can be when fit.
The sensible course is for the two sides to talk soon and reach a clear answer before November 15. If Starc can’t promise to play the full season, an amicable release is better for everyone, since it protects him from a ban and lets the franchise plan its auction budget properly. Waiting and hoping would be the riskiest option of all.
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