NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals kept their slim IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive with a five-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals on Sunday, but even after the victory, the focus remained on a season-long issue that has repeatedly disrupted their campaign — player availability.

The win took DC to 12 points, level with Chennai Super Kings and RR, though they remained seventh due to net run rate. With one game left against Kolkata Knight Riders — the final league fixture of the season — DC’s fate may still be decided before they even take the field.

After the match in Delhi, head coach Hemang Badani addressed one of the biggest talking points of DC’s season: the intermittent availability of key overseas players, particularly Mitchell Starc.

‘Ideally I want my players from day one’

Badani made it clear that losing access to players due to national board decisions had left franchises with little control.

“Ideally I would want my players to be available to me from day one. Starc is probably one of my biggest players in my squad and we’ve invested in him and we know that he’s a match winner,” he said.

“But if there are certain things which are above my pay grade and certain things that are decided by associations and governing bodies, there’s very little that we can do.”

The DC coach pointed to the wider pattern involving Australian players. “Because if Cricket Australia does not release him, which was also the case with Hazlewood, also the case with Pat Cummins, there’s little a coach or any franchise can do about that. Hopefully we have a solution to it in the future.”

Starc turns game — and earns glowing praise

Starc showed exactly why DC were desperate to have him available throughout the campaign. The left-arm quick claimed four wickets, including a decisive three-wicket over that derailed RR after they had reached a dominant 160/2 in 14 overs.

Badani reserved special praise for the Australian’s professionalism, calling him one of the finest examples for younger players.

“He’s possibly one of the best role models anyone can have in sport. His work ethic, his preparation before the game, with his own plans and his training, is above par,” Badani said. “I don’t even see that with a lot of the younger boys. That’s the reason why he’s sustained for so long.”

The coach also highlighted Starc’s off-field impact on Delhi’s younger bowlers.

“He’s always talking to them, trying to pass on knowledge — how can you do reverse swing, how do I hold lengths, what do I do when a batter is going hard. There’s immense conversation that Starcy brings to the table,” he said.

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Badani said Starc was specifically signed because of his ability to influence all stages of an innings.

“He was somebody who liked pressure, somebody who could hit a long ball and at the same time bowl through all three phases. If required, he could even bowl in the powerplay. And if you go back and see the recent Ashes series, he single-handedly won them the Ashes,” Badani added.