Delhi Capitals IPL 2026 Preview: Squad, Strengths, Weaknesses & Key Players

Delhi Capitals is still chasing a first title. A lone final in 2020 promised more, but the trophy slipped away. Six playoff runs later, it’s been a story of flair, fight and familiar heartbreak, always close, never quite there.

Here are the three things in focus for DC ahead of next season.

SEARCHING FOR STABILITY

7

Opening combinations used in IPL 2025

Delhi Capitals struggled to settle on a consistent opening pair last season, using seven different combinations across the campaign. None of these lasted more than three games, while two were tried just once.

The injury to Faf du Plessis compounded the instability. Karun Nair and Abishek Porel offered the most promising option, scoring at 11.05 runs per over, but were given only two opportunities.

The constant reshuffling disrupted rhythm, reflected in a modest PowerPlay run rate of 8.76, the second-lowest in the league.

UNDERUSED ASSET

9.00

Mitchell Starc’s economy at the death

Mitchell Starc was among the most effective bowlers in the death overs last season. His economy of 9.00 was bettered by only three bowlers, while his wicket-taking rate, one every eight balls, was the best in this phase.

Despite this, Delhi Capitals underutilised him, handing him just 54 deliveries at the death. Following his withdrawal from the latter stages of the tournament, the side turned to Mukesh Kumar and Mohit Sharma, who conceded at 14.11 and 11.41 respectively.

NEW-BALL BOOST

7.57

Lungi Ngidi’s T20 economy in 2026

South African seamer Lungi Ngidi arrives as a key addition, especially with Starc unavailable for the early part of the season. He has maintained an economy of 7.57 in T20s this year and impressed during the T20 World Cup with 13 wickets at 7.19.

Ngidi’s effectiveness extends to the death overs, where he has an economy of 7.41, offering Delhi Capitals a reliable option across phases.

Full squad

Head coach: Hemang Badani

Squad: Axar Patel (C), K.L. Rahul, Karun Nair, David Miller, Pathum Nissanka, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Auqib Dar, Nitish Rana, Mitchell Starc, T. Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera, Lungisani Ngidi, Kyle Jamieson, Kuldeep Yadav

Published on Mar 27, 2026