Will Mitchell Starc play in the RR vs DC match of IPL 2026?

In the 43rd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) will face each other on Friday, May 1. This contest will be played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. DC has suffered humiliating defeats in their last two matches of IPL 2026. In their previous match, Axar Patel and his team were bowled out for a mere 75 runs against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and lost by nine wickets.

In their earlier encounter against Punjab Kings (PBKS), despite posting a massive total of 264/2 in the first innings, they suffered a six-wicket defeat. Out of the eight matches played so far, they have won only three; to bolster their chances of qualifying for the playoffs, they must deliver exceptional performances in their upcoming matches.

Will Mitchell Starc play in the RR vs DC match of IPL 2026?

Since the very beginning of the tournament, the Capitals have sorely missed their star fast bowler, Mitchell Starc. The left-arm pacer was recovering from shoulder and elbow injuries and was unable to participate in the matches played during the first half of the tournament. Last week, he joined the DC squad and took part in training sessions.

Although he joined the team last week, he did not play in the previous match. Now, fans are eager to know whether the left-arm pacer will feature in the upcoming clash against the Rajasthan Royals (RR).

During a pre-match press conference, DC's bowling coach, Munaf Patel, stated that Starc would be available for the encounter against RR. He also added that Starc is fit to play, but the final decision will rest with the team management.

Mitchell Starc IPL Career

IPL season	match	over	run	wicket	Average	Economy	best	4 wickets
2025	11	36	366	14	26.14	10.17	5/35	0
2024	14	41.5	444	17	26.12	10.61	4/33	1
2015	13	43	291	20	14.55	6.76	4/15	1
2014	14	53.4	402	14	28.71	7.49	2/21	0
Total IPL	52	174.3	1503	65	23.12	8.61	5/35	2

RR vs DC Playing 11s

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper), Riyan Parag (Captain), Dasun Shanaka, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Brijesh Sharma, Nandre Burger, Yash Raj Punia

Impact Player: Shubham Dubey

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Abishek Porel (WK), KL Rahul, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), David Miller, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar

Impact Player: T Natarajan

List of Orange Cap Winners from All IPL Seasons: Who Won How Many Times?

 In the IPL, the 'Orange Cap' is awarded to the batsman who scores the most runs in each season. It is not merely an award, but a symbol of a batsman's consistency and dominance throughout the entire season. Since the tournament's inception in 2008, many legendary batsmen have claimed this cap. Notably, across 18 seasons, 14 different players have won the Orange Cap a fact that underscores the competitive nature of this tournament.

List of IPL Orange Cap Winners

Year	Winner	Runs	Team
2008	Shaun Marsh	616	KXIP
2009	Matthew Hayden	572	CSK
2010	Sachin Tendulkar	618	MI
2011	Chris Gayle	608	RCB
2012	Chris Gayle	733	RCB
2013	Michael Hussey	733	CSK
2014	Robin Uthappa	660	KKR
2015	David Warner	562	SRH
2016	Virat Kohli	973	RCB
2017	David Warner	641	SRH
2018	Kane Williamson	735	SRH
2019	David Warner	692	SRH
2020	KL Rahul	670	KXIP
2021	Ruturaj Gaikwad	635	CSK
2022	Jos Buttler	863	RR
2023	Shubman Gill	890	GT
2024	Virat Kohli	741	RCB
2025	Sai Sudharsan	617	GT

Over the past few seasons, young players have truly made their mark. Batsmen like Ruturaj Gaikwad (2021), Shubman Gill (2023), and Sai Sudharsan (2025) delivered magnificent performances to win the Orange Cap. In 2024, Virat Kohli once again showcased his class by scoring 741 runs.

Which Players, How Many Times? Orange Cap

Player	Season	Total Orange Caps
David Warner	2015, 2017, 2019	3
Virat Kohli	2016, 2024	2
Chris Gayle	2011, 2012	2
Shaun Marsh	2008	1
Matthew Hayden	2009	1
Sachin Tendulkar	2010	1
Michael Hussey	2013	1
Robin Uthappa	2014	1
Kane Williamson	2018	1
KL Rahul	2020	1
Ruturaj Gaikwad	2021	1
Jos Buttler	2022	1
Shubman Gill	2023	1
Sai Sudharsan	2025	1

When it comes to winning the Orange Cap the most number of times, David Warner leads the pack. He has claimed this title three times (2015, 2017, 2019). Meanwhile, Chris Gayle has won the Orange Cap twice—a feat also achieved by Virat Kohli. Kohli's 2016 season (973 runs) is still regarded as the finest batting performance in the history of the IPL.

IPL 2026 Orange Cap Winner

Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	Fours	Sixes
Virat Kohli	7	7	328	54.67	163.18	36	12
Abhishek Sharma	7	7	323	53.83	215.33	25	27
Heinrich Klaasen	7	7	320	53.33	153.11	22	13
Shubman Gill	6	6	297	49.50	149.25	29	11
Sanju Samson	7	7	293	58.60	178.66	31	15

Why did the RCB team wear the green jersey against Delhi?

In the match against the Delhi Capitals, the Royal Challengers Bangalore team has taken the field wearing green jerseys. This match is being played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. While RCB's standard jersey features a combination of black and red, why have the team's players stepped out in green jerseys for this match against Delhi? The primary reason for this is the 'Go Green' initiative, which aims to raise awareness regarding environmental conservation.

It is worth noting that today, Royal Challengers Bangalore is playing its 100th match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. This is another reason why the RCB team has taken the field in green jerseys—to truly make this day a special occasion. They have also become the first team in the history of the IPL to set the record of playing 100 matches at a single venue.

Why did the RCB team wear the green jersey?

In 2011, Royal Challengers Bangalore launched the 'Go Green' initiative. Since 2011, the RCB team has taken the field wearing a green jersey in at least one match every season. By doing so, the Bangalore team works to spread awareness regarding global warming and environmental conservation. Rajesh Menon, CEO of the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise, states that it is the result of years of hard work that the franchise has today achieved the status of being carbon-neutral. He further added that this initiative also serves to inspire the general public.

RCB's management takes special care to ensure that carbon emissions at the team level are minimized. To this end, records are maintained regarding the team's travel, hotel stays, electricity consumption, and emissions generated by diesel generators. Furthermore, the team has endeavored to involve fans in this initiative; arrangements have been made to provide metro tickets alongside match tickets.

Rubel Hossain has announced his retirement from international cricket

 Veteran Bangladeshi fast bowler Rubel Hossain has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 36-year-old Rubel shared this news with his 3.5 million followers on Facebook, announcing his decision to bring an end to his journey spanning 159 international matches. Rubel played his final international match—a T20 International against the New Zealand national cricket team—in Auckland in April 2021. Since then, he had been battling persistent injuries, which significantly limited his participation even in domestic cricket.

For Bangladeshi fans, Rubel's most memorable performance will undoubtedly remain the match played against England in Adelaide during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. In that contest, he dismissed both Ian Bell and captain Eoin Morgan within the span of just four deliveries; subsequently, by sending Stuart Broad and James Anderson back to the pavilion, he finished with figures of 4 wickets for 53 runs—a bowling spell that proved to be match-winning.

Rubel wrote, I am Rubel Hossain, a fast bowler. I have played 27 Tests, 104 ODIs, and 28 T20 Internationals for Bangladesh. The national team has been my passion, but there comes a time when one must bid farewell to international cricket. It is with this sentiment that I have made this decision. However, I will continue to play domestic cricket." Expressing his gratitude to his family, friends, the media, and his fans, he also expressed hope for their continued support in the future.

Rubel Hossain Career

Rubel's international journey began in 2009, when the then-Bangladesh fast bowling coach, Champaka Ramanayake, discovered him during a nationwide talent hunt. With his slingy action and speeds reaching up to 140 km/h, Rubel quickly made a name for himself. In his very ODI debut against Sri Lanka, he claimed 4 wickets for 33 runs to guide Bangladesh to victory, becoming the first bowler to achieve this feat. He did not find as much success in Test cricket—taking 36 wickets in 27 matches at an average of 76.77—but he proved to be highly effective in the limited-overs formats.

In the ODI format, Rubel established himself as one of Bangladesh's most reliable bowlers, taking 129 wickets in 104 matches at an average of 34.31. His record includes seven instances of taking four wickets in an innings and one instance of taking five wickets. His performance against New Zealand in 2013—where he took 6 wickets for 26 runs, including a hat-trick—stands as one of the standout achievements of his career. Interestingly, just one week prior to this, he had also taken a hat-trick in a domestic match, although he hadn't even realized it at the time.

Rohit Sharma Update: 3 players could replace Rohit Sharma against Punjab

Mumbai Indians have suffered a major setback ahead of their next match. The team is scheduled to face Punjab Kings in their upcoming fixture, and there is a strong possibility that Mumbai Indians' star opener, Rohit Sharma, will be unable to play in this game. Rohit sustained a hamstring injury during the previous match against RCB, which forced him to leave the field and return to the pavilion in the middle of his innings. Consequently, the biggest question now is which player will be given the opportunity to take Rohit Sharma's place in the match against Punjab Kings. We are going to name three players who could step in to replace Rohit in this match.

Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock could be the best option to open the innings for Mumbai Indians in place of Rohit Sharma. He possesses considerable experience playing in the IPL and has already amassed over 3,300 runs in the tournament. Consequently, he could prove to be an excellent replacement for Rohit Sharma. De Kock is renowned for his aggressive batting style.

The 33-year-old De Kock has played for several franchises in the IPL and has delivered some exceptional innings over the past few years. However, to incorporate him into the squad, MI would need to make certain adjustments to their combination of overseas players. To accommodate De Kock in the team, either Mitchell Santner or Trent Boult might have to sit out.

Naman Dheer

Another player who could open the innings in place of Rohit Sharma is Naman Dhir. Naman Dhir was part of the Mumbai Indians' Playing 11 in the previous match; therefore, there is a strong possibility that he will retain his spot in the Playing XI for this match as well. Should the situation demand it, he is also capable of opening the innings. This 26-year-old player has played 27 IPL matches so far, in which he has scored 451 runs at a strike rate of over 176. He could prove to be a key player in Mumbai's top order and is capable of batting effectively against the Punjab Kings' bowling attack.

Robin Minz

In the match against Punjab Kings, the Mumbai Indians team might give Robin Minz an opportunity in place of Rohit. Minz does not possess extensive experience playing in the IPL, but he has proven his capabilities in domestic cricket. In the 2024 IPL, Gujarat Titans acquired him for ₹3.60 crore; subsequently, ahead of the 2025 IPL, Mumbai Indians inducted him into their squad for ₹65 lakh. Minz has not received many opportunities so far, having played only 7 T20 matches. Therefore, if he gets a chance in this match, he will undoubtedly be eager to deliver a stellar performance.

IPL 2026 Overseas Players Rule: How Many Overseas Players Per Team?

 The excitement of IPL 2026 is now just a few days away. All teams have finalized their strategies for this season, which is set to commence on March 28, 2026. A major contributor to the success of the IPL has been its strict and transparent regulations—among which the 'Foreign Players Rule' holds the utmost significance.

In this article, we will outline the rules pertaining to foreign players for the 2026 season and also examine how teams will go about selecting their Playing XI.

1. Overseas Players Playing XI Rule

In IPL 2026 as well, an old and fundamental rule will remain in effect: a team can include a maximum of four overseas players in its Playing XI. The remaining seven players must be Indian nationals. This rule has been established to ensure that Indian domestic talent receives ample opportunities to play alongside international stars and showcase their abilities.

2. Overseas Player Impact Player Rule

When utilizing the Impact Player rule in the IPL, there is a crucial condition regarding overseas players: at no point should there be more than four overseas players on the field.

An overseas player can be introduced as an Impact Player only if the team has included fewer than four overseas players in its starting Playing XI.

• Condition A: If a team has selected 4 overseas players in its starting Playing XI, it may bring only one Indian player onto the field as an Impact Player.
• Condition B: If a team has initially fielded only 3 or fewer overseas players, they may utilize an overseas player as an Impact Player.

3. Overseas Players Squad Rule

Even though only four foreign players are allowed to play in an IPL match, a larger number of overseas players can be included in the full squad.

• Total Players: A team may have a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 25 players.
• Foreign Quota: A maximum of 8 foreign players may be included in the entire squad.

4. Overseas Salary Cap

The BCCI has imposed a significant cap on the auction price for overseas players for the 2026 season. Now, the salary of any overseas player cannot exceed the IPL retention limit (₹18 crore).Match Analysis Tool

If a player attracts a bid of ₹20 crore in the auction, the franchise's purse will be debited by the full ₹20 crore; however, the player will receive only ₹18 crore. The remaining ₹2 crore will be deposited into the BCCI Player Welfare Fund.

RCB has announced a new title sponsor for IPL 2026

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, scheduled to begin in the last week of March, will see Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) attempt to defend their title. Last year, they made history by winning their first-ever IPL title. Under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, RCB defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a thrilling final to lift the trophy. They finished second in the points table after the league stage.

They beat PBKS in two consecutive matches, first in Qualifier 1 and then in the final, to claim their maiden IPL championship title. Virat Kohli, who was the team's highest run-scorer and third overall in the tournament, played a crucial role in RCB's victory. Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered outstanding performances with the ball.

RCB has retained its core team for the upcoming season. They also added some star players like Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, and Jordan Cox in the IPL 2026 auction held in December. While their core team remains unchanged, they will have a new title sponsor for the upcoming season.

RCB has ended its association with Qatar Airways

Royal Challengers Bangalore's title sponsor was Qatar Airways, a partnership that lasted for three seasons. This agreement, worth approximately ₹75 crore, was crucial in strengthening RCB's commercial image during that period. The partnership ensured a strong brand presence through the team's jersey, digital platforms, and in-match branding, before the franchise signed a new title sponsorship deal ahead of the latest season.

RCB has announced a new title sponsor for IPL 2026

Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) announced on Tuesday that Nothing Phones will be their new title sponsor for the next two seasons. The announcement was made through a social media post on Instagram, captioned, "Two years. One partnership. @nothingindia, let's get started."

Nothing is set to become the new title sponsor of RCB in IPL 2026

Electronics company Nothing will be the new title sponsor of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for IPL 2026. The franchise announced this in an official post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday (February 3). Speaking about the move, RCB's Chief Operating Officer Rajesh Menon said that they are very happy to partner with the Nothing brand for IPL 2026.