No Stubbs; Who Will Replace Starc? Delhi Capitals' Probable XI If Stars Miss IPL Playoffs

Starc and Stubbs- (Source:@Johns/X.com)

On Wednesday, January 15, there were reports that Australian and South African cricketers might miss the IPL 2025 playoffs because of the WTC 2025 final. Notably, IPL 2025 will go on till May 25 and the WTC final will take place at Lord's from June 11-15.

In case, the reports are true and the players from both nations leave for international duties, then the teams that will qualify for playoffs will have a hard time as it will disturb their combination. 

Further, Delhi Capitals are full of players from South Africa and Australia. The Capitals would be one of the worst-affected teams as they have the likes of Tristan Stubbs and Mitchell Starc, who are regular in Test cricket as well and might skip the IPL 2025 playoffs.

Meanwhile, this article will shed light on Delhi Capitals' probable XI in case the players leave. 

---

ALSO READ

'Come On, Rishabh': Ashwin's Role Reversal For Pant To Cheer Him Up Behind The Stumps

---

JFM And Faf Du Plessis To Open

Delhi would look to go for an overseas opening pair and send Jake Fraser McGurk to open with Faf du Plessis. Notably, JFM is struggling to score runs in BBL, but he has proved himself in the IPL in 2024 season and surface at Arun Jaitley Stadium would suit him. 

Meanwhile, Du Plessis is also playing franchise cricket across the globe and will look to have a place in the playing XI for DC in IPL 2025. 

Harry Brook To Replace Tristan Stubbs For Playoffs

KL Rahul, Abhishek Porel will highlight the middle-order. Meanwhile, Harry Brook would be an ideal replacement for Tristan Stubbs who has played a great role as a finisher for DC in IPL 2024. Further, Ashutosh Sharma and Axar Patel would add the finishing touches for the Capitals.

Sri Lanka Seamer To Replace Mitchell Starc

Delhi have build a solid bowling attack for IPL 2025. They have Kuldeep Yadav in the spin-attack, who will form a formidable pair with Axar Patel. Further, to replace Mitchell Starc, they have Sri Lanka's Dushmantha Chameera.  Other than them, T Natarajan, and Mukesh Kumar will be the other seamers for the Capitals. 

DC Playing XI

Jake Fraser-McGurk ✈️
Faf Du Plessis ✈️
Abhishek Porel
KL Rahul (C)(WK)
Ashutosh Sharma
Harry Brook✈️
Axar Patel
Kuldeep Yadav
Dushmantha Chameera✈️
T Natarajan
Mukesh Kumar

Impact Player- Mohit Sharma

---

ALSO READ

Another Flop Show In BBL! 3 Reasons Why Buying Fraser-McGurk Was A Mistake By DC

---