Axar Patel’s Delhi Capitals enter IPL 2026 with renewed vigor, aiming to finally lift the IPL trophy. Their batting order stands out as one of the most balanced in the league, packed with proven performers and promising talents. Yet, the pace bowling unit appears fragile, especially with Mitchell Starc sidelined for initial matches.
Reflecting on IPL 2025, Delhi’s campaign was a tale of two halves—a blistering start derailed by mid-season slumps, resulting in 7 victories from 14 games. Playoff qualification slipped away despite Axar’s steady leadership. Standouts included KL Rahul’s consistency, Tristan Stubbs’ aggression, and Abhishek Porel’s emergence as a star.
Bolstered by Nitish Rana’s experience in the middle order, the lineup features explosive openers Ben Duckett and Prithvi Shaw. David Miller adds class, and finishers like Ashutosh Sharma, Sameer Rizvi, and Stubbs ensure late-order drama. Versatile players Kyle Jamieson and Vipraj Nigam contribute across formats.
Pace bowling is the Achilles’ heel. Mukesh Kumar’s skill is offset by high economy rates. T Natarajan needs to rediscover form after a poor 2025. Aaqib Nabi, with his domestic exploits, is a wildcard. The spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel provides reliability and match-winning potential.
Complete squad list: Axar Patel (captain), Lungi Ngidi, Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, Aaqib Nabi Dar, Nitish Rana, Vipraj Nigam, Tristan Stubbs, Sahil Parekh, David Miller, Prithvi Shaw, Kyle Jamieson, Tripurana Vijay, T Natarajan, Sameer Rizvi, Mitchell Starc, Madhav Tiwari, Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Dushmantha Chameera, Ashutosh Sharma, Ajay Mandal, Abhishek Porel.
Will Delhi bridge the gap between potential and trophies? The IPL 2026 narrative is set for an exciting chapter.