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Delhi Capitals IPL 2026

Full Squad, Predicted XI & Season Preview

Last updated: 19 March 2026 · By CricketPrediction.com

Delhi Capitals enter IPL 2026 with a squad built to finally break through. KL Rahul (retained at ₹14 crore after scoring 539 runs at an average of 53.9 in 2025) anchors the batting. Mitchell Starc and Kuldeep Yadav form the deadliest pace-spin combination in the tournament. And with Tristan Stubbs (IPL career strike rate 163.19) and David Miller (₹2 crore bargain) providing firepower, DC have depth that previous squads lacked. The question: can captain Axar Patel convert this talent into DC’s first-ever IPL title?

Key Players

KL Rahul (₹14 Cr, retained)

DC’s most important player. His 539 runs in IPL 2025 (avg 53.9, SR 149.72) included a century (112* off 65 balls vs Gujarat Titans) and 3 fifties. Rahul provides what DC have always lacked: a batter who can bat through an innings and still score at nearly 150 strike rate. He keeps wicket too, freeing up a batting slot.

Mitchell Starc (₹11.75 Cr, retained)

Starc’s 2025 season was a mixed bag. The 5/35 against SRH (his first T20 five-wicket haul) showed his ceiling. But an economy of 10.24 across 11 matches showed his floor. At 36 years old, DC need 2024-KKR Starc (title-winning spells), not the inconsistent version.

Kuldeep Yadav (₹13.25 Cr, retained)

India’s premier wrist-spinner took 15 wickets in 2025 as DC’s top wicket-taker. Kuldeep is the control bowler who makes other bowlers look better: when he goes for 7 an over in the middle overs, the pressure builds on batters to attack Starc or Natarajan instead.

Tristan Stubbs (₹10 Cr, retained)

The 25-year-old South African (born August 14, 2000) has an IPL career strike rate of 163.19 across 32 matches (705 runs). His 2024 season (378 runs, SR 190.91, 3 fifties) was explosive. The 2025 numbers dipped (300 runs, SR 150.75) but he remains one of the most destructive middle-order batters in the tournament.

T Natarajan (₹10.75 Cr, traded from SRH)

Natarajan’s left-arm yorkers at the death give DC a weapon they badly needed. He was SRH’s death-overs specialist for years. At Arun Jaitley Stadium, where dew makes second-innings bowling treacherous, Natarajan’s accuracy under pressure becomes even more valuable.

David Miller (₹2 Cr, auction)

The steal of the auction. Miller has 4,000+ IPL runs and decades of high-pressure finishing experience. At ₹2 crore (compared to Stubbs at ₹10 crore), DC got an experienced left-hander who can bat at 5 or 6 and close out innings. The only question is whether Father Time has caught up.

Strengths

KL Rahul solves the anchor problem. DC have historically lacked a batter who can bat deep and score quickly. Rahul does both: 53.9 average AND 149.72 strike rate. He also keeps wicket, allowing DC to play an extra batter or bowler.

Bowling variety is unmatched. Starc (left-arm pace), Kuldeep (wrist-spin), Natarajan (left-arm yorkers), Mukesh Kumar (right-arm seam), and Axar (left-arm orthodox) give DC five distinct bowling options. Opposition batters cannot settle into a rhythm.

Middle-order depth with Stubbs and Miller. Both are match-winners in pressure situations. Stubbs brings raw power (SR 163), Miller brings experience (4,000+ runs). Together, they give DC finishing options that few teams can match.

Weaknesses

The Pant void is real. Rishabh Pant’s ability to turn impossible chases into routine wins, his intimidation factor on opposition bowlers, and his match-winning instincts took 7 years to build. Axar is a fine cricketer, but not a generational talent. DC’s ceiling has dropped.

Starc’s economy is a concern. 10.24 in 2025 is poor for a bowler earning ₹11.75 crore. At 36, if Starc cannot recapture his 2024 KKR form, DC are paying premium prices for average returns. His powerplay economy of 11.22 was among the worst in IPL 2025.

8 overseas for 4 slots creates instability. Starc and Stubbs are near-locks. But choosing between Miller, Nissanka, Duckett, Ngidi, Jamieson, and Chameera for the remaining 2 spots will mean constant rotation. Rotation disrupts chemistry.

No IPL title in 17 seasons. DC (formerly Delhi Daredevils) have reached just 1 final — 2020 in Dubai, where they lost to MI. The franchise has a pattern of assembling talented squads that underperform in knockout moments. As Delhi Daredevils, they made the playoffs in 2008, 2009, and 2012 but never got past the qualifiers. Breaking that pattern requires more than talent; it requires belief.

Full Squad (25 Players)

Predicted XI

Overseas slots (4/4): Nissanka, Stubbs, Miller, Starc. This is the most balanced combination. Ngidi or Jamieson can replace Miller or Nissanka on seam-friendly pitches. Duckett can slot in as an opener if DC want a left-right combination at the top.

The opening debate: KL Rahul opens in our predicted XI, but DC may use him at No. 3 or 4 (as they did mid-2025). If Rahul drops down, Prithvi Shaw or Ben Duckett become opening options alongside Nissanka. The first 2-3 matches will reveal DC’s preferred structure.

Coaching Staff

Badani took over from Ricky Ponting and coached DC through IPL 2025 (5th place). The addition of Ian Bell (former England captain, 118 Tests) as assistant coach brings international batting expertise. Munaf Patel (former India fast bowler) handles the bowling attack that features Starc, Kuldeep, and Natarajan.

Schedule (Phase 1)

Opening match context: DC vs LSG on April 1 is the Pant reunion. Rishabh Pant faces his former team in Lucknow, making it one of the most emotionally charged fixtures of the opening week. DC must treat it as a cricket match, not an emotional event.

Title History

DC have reached 1 IPL final (2020) and lost. The franchise was originally called Delhi Daredevils (2008-2018) and rebranded to Delhi Capitals in 2019. Co-owned by GMR Group and JSW Group. A maiden IPL title remains their biggest goal.

Season Prediction

Our prediction: 5th-6th place (playoff contender, not favourite).

The bowling attack on paper is exceptional: Starc, Kuldeep, Natarajan, Mukesh, and Axar give DC five quality options across all phases. If Starc bowls at his 2024 KKR level (when he helped KKR win the title), this attack can defend anything.

The batting is the uncertainty. KL Rahul is a proven run-machine, but the rest of the top order is unsettled. Stubbs and Miller provide middle-order power, but both are overseas players who need to fire consistently. Axar at 6 is solid but not a guaranteed match-winner with the bat.

DC’s success will come down to two factors: can Starc control his economy, and can the batting lineup settle into a structure by match 3? If both answers are yes, DC threaten the top 4. If either answer is no, another 5th-place finish is the likely outcome.

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