The Delhi Capitals have officially confirmed the return of seasoned South African batter Faf du Plessis and young talent Tristan Stubbs ahead of their high-stakes IPL 2025 clash against the Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium this Sunday.

However, the team has also suffered a significant setback as Mitchell Starc, their marquee Australian fast bowler, has withdrawn from the remainder of the tournament due to personal reasons. Starc’s absence leaves a noticeable void in Delhi’s pace attack.

Adding to the concerns, South African all-rounder Donovan Ferreira is also unavailable for the rest of the season, further thinning the Capitals’ options. In response to the changing squad dynamics, Delhi has brought in Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman as a replacement for Jake Fraser-McGurk, who too exited the tournament early due to personal issues.

Mustafizur, a familiar face in the DC setup with prior stints in 2022 and 2023, brings much-needed experience to the bowling unit. The left-arm pacer has featured in 57 IPL matches, collecting 61 wickets at an economy of 8.14, and is expected to play a key role in the upcoming fixtures.

Fraser-McGurk’s absence is a particular blow, as the Australian opener had gained attention for his explosive batting, including a memorable 15-ball half-century in IPL 2024. His dynamic presence at the top was seen as crucial for Delhi’s campaign this season.

With these changes, Delhi Capitals will be hoping their new combinations can deliver results as the tournament heats up.