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Mitchell Starc's Absence And? 3 Factors That Could Lead DC To Group-Stage Exit From IPL 2025

Debashis Sarangi

Mitch Starc's withdrawal could dent DC's chances [Source: AP]Mitch Starc's withdrawal could dent DC's chances [Source: AP]

Delhi Capitals had a forgettable game last night, as Gujarat Titans handed them an embarrassing ten-wicket defeat in the 60th IPL 2025 match. Led by Axar Patel, DC failed to defend a massive total of 199 runs, with GT chasing the target without losing a single wicket. 

This was DC's third straight defeat in the tournament and there are some prominent reasons why they might crash out of the group-stage.

1. Mitchell Starc's Absence

  • Mitchell Starc was one of the key performers for Delhi Capitals. Before the IPL 2025 was suspended, Starc oozed his class with the ball, scalping 14 wickets, including a five-wicket haul, in ten innings at a superb strike rate of 15. 
  • His ability to make the new ball talk at a sheer pace and deliver inch-perfect yorkers in the slog overs made him a valuable asset for the Capitals. However, Starc decided against returning to India for the remainder of the tournament for personal reasons. 
  • His absence has created a massive void in DC's lineup. It instantly affected their performance with the ball, as the Capitals failed to bag a single wicket against GT. Thus, Starc's absence could be one of the key factors behind their potential group-stage exit from the IPL 2025.  

2. Inconsistency Of Top Order Batters

Criterion
Du Plessis
Porel
Innings712
Runs173295
Average24.7126.82
Strike Rate122.70150.51

(IPL 2025 stats of Du Plessis and Porel)

  • Apart from KL Rahul, none of the DC batters have had a stand-out season in the IPL 2025. While Abhishek Porel has got starts, the inconsistency of Faf du Plessis and the vulnerability of their middle order has proved costly for them in the tournament. 
  • Du Plessis has been a proven failure, managing 173 runs in seven innings at a poor average of 24.71. Meanwhile, Porel has struck only 70 runs in his last four innings, letting the Capitals down on consecutive occasions. 
  • Thus, DC would like these players to pull their socks up and assist KL Rahul in the most efficient manner at the top order. 

3. The Curious Case Of Axar Patel

  • The transition of Axar Patel from a spin-bowling allrounder to a batter who can bowl is certainly praiseworthy. However, while Axar has contributed to DC's batting department with brisk cameos, his underwhelming outings with the ball have raised serious concerns. 
  • Statistically, Axar Patel was one of DC's most impressive bowlers last season, scalping 11 wickets at a surreal economy of 7.65. However, his numbers with the ball tell a different story this season, as the left-arm spinner has managed only five wickets across eleven innings while recording an economy rate of 8.47. 
  • Furthermore, his tendency to push himself up the order despite DC having the likes of Sameer Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs hasn't really been a game-changing move. So, it's crucial from Axar's perspective to reanalyse his entry point and resolve his bowling woes in order to assist Kuldeep Yadav, who seems to be DC's lone-warrior in the middle overs.