Mitchell Starc, Australia’s top bowler, has made the decision not to play in India for the rest of the 2025 Indian Premier League.

The Delhi Capitals’ (DC) route to the IPL 2025 playoffs has been unexpectedly tense due to the fast bowler’s choice.

The’ Australia Associated Press’ reports that the pacer, who was involved in the Dharamshala match in early May that was canceled for security concerns, has communicated his choice to the team. Soon after, as tensions between India and Pakistan increased, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stopped the IPL 2025 for a week. The board has now declared that the league will restart on May 17 in light of the truce.

Mitchell Starc played for DC in the IPL 2025, with 14 wickets in 11 games. The Delhi-based team will be affected by his absence in the league’s final games as they attempt to guarantee a postseason berth.

Alyssa Healy, the captain of the Australian women’s team and the pacer’s wife, posted a short video of the event that happened during the Punjab Kings vs. Delhi Capitals IPL 2025 match in Dharamshala.

“We were simply waiting when a few of the light towers went out. On the ‘WillowTalk’ podcast, Healy said, “I heard a rumor a couple of seats down that we might have to evacuate the stadium because the lights have gone down.” We also have a sizable family and other support personnel. And the man who kind of herds us all together and puts us on the bus appears the next minute, his face pallid.

He then said, “We have to go immediately. ‘Oh, it’s alright,’ we were saying. It would probably be better if we let everyone else leave the stadium and remained here. Right now, we’re probably safer. Because everyone will be down the stairs,” she said.

Mustafizur Rahman has joined DC to take Jake Fraser-McGurk’s spot. On May 18, Delhi, captained by Axar Patel, will play the Gujarat Titans (GT) in their next IPL 2025 encounter.