Strongest DC playing XI for IPL 2026
The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League is set to kick off on March 28, but two teams are still waiting for their maiden title. The first one is the Punjab Kings, and the second one is the Delhi Capitals. Last year, this team started well in the initial phase, but lost their momentum in the middle and last phases, which caused they even missed a spot in the playoffs. But this time, Delhi’s fortune might be changed. Teams worked very sincerely in the auction and added some big names to their squad, including Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, David Miller, Kyle Jamieson, and Lungi Ngidi as overseas players. DC also acquired Prithvi Shaw, Auqib Dar, and Sahil Parekh, like domestic stars.
Nitish Rana also joined the Delhi Capitals for the 2026 IPL season via a trade with the Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Donovan Ferreira.
Delhi Capitals already have KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, and Ashutosh Sharma-like batters in their squad, which makes them a brilliant batting side for the upcoming season. One of the best all-rounders in the current era, Axar Patel, will lead the side. While Auqib Nabi Dar’s inclusion made this side very dangerous.
In the bowling department, the team has Lungi Ngidi, Dushmanta Chameera, Mitchell Starc, T Natrajan, Mukesh Kumar, and Kyle Jamieson like pacers. While Kuldeep Yadav will be the front-line spinner. Vipraj Nigam will assist him. DC will miss Mitchell Starc’s services in the initial phase, who missed the starting phase of the tournament due to his workload management. Delhi Capitals management will have to do a lot of work to make their playing XI. The team has a lot of options. The team has a 24-member squad, and choosing the playing XI from this brilliant squad will be a difficult task.
Prithvi Shaw might open with one of Pathum Nissanka or Ben Duckett. At 3, KL Rahul should be batting. He has a lot of experience, and he can bat easily according to the situation. But DC can go with the previous edition combination first. Abishek Porel has been continuously scoring runs for the last two seasons. He can open with KL Rahul. In this situation, one of Nitish Rana or Karun Nair will bat at 3.
After this, the batting firepower continues with players like Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, and David Miller coming in next. Skipper Axar Patel and Vipraj Nigam might bat in the lower order. Both will also feature in the spin bowling department, along with veteran spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Following this, Lungi Ngidi, Auqib Nabi Dar, and T Natrajan will be the pacers. After Mitchell Starc’s return, the bowling line-up might be changed. DC have a strong core group of Indian players, and it is possible that the team may not even field four of its overseas players in the playing XI in IPL 2026.
Delhi Capitals will kick off their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 at Ekana Stadium, Lucknow. After this, they will face the Mumbai Indians on April 4 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. After playing the first 2 matches, they will fly to their home at Arun Jaitley Stadium, where they will face the Gujarat Titans on April 8. They will face the Chennai Super Kings on April 11 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
Strongest DC playing XI for IPL 2026
Abishek Porel
KL Rahul (wk)
Nitish Rana
Tristan Stubbs (✈)
Ashutosh Sharma
David Miller (✈)
Axar Patel
Vipraj Nigam
Kuldeep Yadav
Lungi Ngidi ✈)
Auqib Nabi Dar
T. Natrajan
