IPL 2026: Can Delhi Capitals break the trophy jinx?
What's the story
Like every season, Delhi Capitals (DC) are still on the hunt for their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title. Last season, under new captain Axar Patel, the Capitals started well but lost steam midway through. They won five of their first six matches before faltering. DC will now begin their IPL 2026 campaign on April 1 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow. Here's how they have stacked up.
Squad
Players retained and bought by DC
Players retained: Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera, and Kuldeep Yadav. Players bought: Prithvi Shaw, Ben Duckett, David Miller, Pathum Nissanka, Kyle Jamieson, Lungi Ngidi, and Sahil Parakh. Notably, Nitish Rana was traded in from Rajasthan Royals.
Strengths
Star-studded batting line-up
DC have once again assembled a batting line-up of proven match-winners. The consistent KL Rahul will be looking to make his mark after scoring 539 runs last year. DC have the experience of Nitish Rana, Karun Nair, and Axar Patel, as well as the versatility of Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma. Even Ben Duckett and Pathum Nissanka can bolster the top order. Moreover, they have one of the most lethal bowling attacks, including Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi, and Kuldeep Yadav.
Information
What are the weaknesses?
Like the last season, the Capitals don't have many chinks in their armor in IPL 2026. However, a problem of plenty may arise in the top order, leading to an unsettled opening combination. DC would aim to zero in on a defiant batting line-up.
Season
How DC fared in IPL 2025
DC were a side to beat in the first half of IPL 2025. Under Axar, they started with four successive wins. However, they lost momentum in the second half and eventually missed the playoff spot. DC finished fifth with seven wins, six losses, and 15 points (NR: 1). Rahul topped their batting chart with 539 runs, while Kuldeep took 15 wickets.