Back Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026

Delhi Capitals Squad 2026: Full Player List, Captain & Team Profile

Delhi Capitals come into IPL 2026 with a refreshed identity, a new full-time captain in Axar Patel, and a squad that looks built for balance rather than star power alone. With Hemang Badani as head coach and a strong backroom team, DC will once again rely on a mix of Indian core and overseas specialists to challenge for the playoffs. The franchise has doubled down on multi-dimensional cricketers, with bowling depth and left-right batting options across the order.

Axar Patel’s promotion as captain signals continuity and a tactical approach built around spin, control and smart match-ups. With experienced campaigners like KL Rahul, David Miller and Kuldeep Yadav alongside aggressive options such as Prithvi Shaw and Tristan Stubbs, Delhi Capitals have the tools to compete in high-scoring IPL matches as well as grind out tricky low-scoring contests. Fans following every live IPL match can track DC’s progress and scores via IPL 2026 Live Score.

The bowling lineup, led by Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav and Lungi Ngidi, gives Delhi flexibility across venues. If they can find the right combinations early and maximise their games at Arun Jaitley Stadium, DC could be serious title contenders in 2026.

Delhi Capitals 2026 Upcoming Matches

Delhi Capitals face a challenging early schedule with key away fixtures before returning to their home base in Delhi. Here are the confirmed early fixtures for IPL 2026.

Delhi will look to capitalise on their two early home games to build momentum. For scores, commentary and ball-by-ball from all IPL matches, you can always jump to the live IPL match centre on the homepage.

Quick Facts: Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026

For a role-wise, detailed list of every squad member, see Delhi Capitals Players.

Squad Breakdown

Delhi Capitals have assembled a compact but versatile squad for IPL 2026. The batting order has a blend of anchors and finishers, while multiple all-round options allow them to adjust to different pitches and opposition. The pace attack has genuine international quality, and the spin department is anchored by Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.

Batters

Karun Nair – Technically solid top-order batter, ideal for stabilising the innings and rotating strike in the powerplay.

Nitish Rana – Left-handed middle-order batter who can counter spin and change gears quickly through the middle overs.

Sameer Rizvi – Explosive domestic batter, primarily a middle-order dasher capable of clearing the ropes from ball one.

Prithvi Shaw – Attacking opener who thrives on pace and width, key to setting aggressive platforms in the powerplay.

David Miller – Experienced left-hander and proven IPL finisher, brings calm and six-hitting power in the death overs.

Ben Duckett – Compact top-order batter, strong against spin and adept at manipulating fields with sweeps and reverse sweeps.

Pathum Nissanka – Classical opening batter who can anchor the innings and bat deep in chases or while setting targets.

Ashutosh Sharma – Hard-hitting middle-order option, suited to floating roles and finishing short, sharp cameos.

Tripurana Vijay – Flexible batter who can slot in at No. 3 or 4, providing stability when early wickets fall.

Wicket-keepers (WK-Batter)

KL Rahul – Senior top-order wicket-keeper batter, capable of both anchoring and accelerating; a major pillar of the DC batting unit.

Tristan Stubbs – Dynamic middle-order WK-batter, powerful against both pace and spin and a natural finisher at No. 5 or 6.

Abishek Porel – Young left-handed keeper-batter, offers energy in the field and flexibility as a backup opener or middle-order option.

All-Rounders

Axar Patel – Left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder and captain, renowned for his tight overs and clean power-hitting down the order.

Ajay Jadav Mandal – Spin-bowling all-rounder, adds depth with the bat and another slow-bowling option through the middle overs.

Madhav Tiwari – Emerging all-rounder capable of contributing handy runs in the lower-middle order and chipping in with the ball.

Auqib Nabi Dar – Pace-bowling all-rounder, brings hitting ability at No. 7–8 and useful seam overs in the powerplay or at the death.

Bowlers

Kuldeep Yadav – Left-arm wrist-spinner and a strike weapon in the middle overs, vital for breaking partnerships and controlling the run rate.

Mukesh Kumar – Indian seamer suited to hard lengths, trusted for new-ball spells and disciplined bowling at the death.

T Natarajan – Left-arm seamer with excellent yorkers, especially effective in the slog overs and against set batters.

Vipraj Nigam – Domestic pace option, adds bench strength and competition for spots in the seam attack.

Mitchell Starc – World-class left-arm fast bowler, brings pace, bounce and wicket-taking ability with the new ball and at the death.

Lungi Ngidi – Hit-the-deck pacer, effective on surfaces with bounce, ideal as a middle-overs enforcer.

Kyle Jamieson – Tall fast bowler who extracts steep bounce and offers lower-order hitting, useful in seamer-friendly conditions.

Dushmantha Chameera – Skiddy quick with good change-ups, a strong option in powerplay and death overs in high-scoring games.

Sahil Parakh – Young quick in the squad, provides extra depth and a developmental pace option for the future.

Home Stadium – The Fortress

Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is the home of Delhi Capitals and traditionally offers low to moderate bounce, with shorter straight boundaries and larger square ones. The surface can sometimes start true and slow down as the tournament progresses, bringing spinners and cutters into play. Scores around the 170–185 range are often competitive, though fresh wickets can still produce high-scoring thrillers.

For Delhi Capitals, this means building tactics around their spin strength and smart use of variations from their seamers. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel are perfectly suited to choking runs in the middle overs, while the likes of Mukesh Kumar and Natarajan can use cutters and yorkers at the death. Backed by a vocal Delhi crowd and familiarity with the angles and boundary dimensions, DC will aim to turn Arun Jaitley Stadium into a genuine fortress where visiting sides are constantly under pressure.

Season Outlook

Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2026 campaign will likely hinge on how quickly their new leadership group clicks and how consistently their top order fires. With KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw and Pathum Nissanka as options at the top, DC have the resources to set strong platforms, while finishers like David Miller and Tristan Stubbs can turn good scores into match-winning totals.

On the bowling front, a pace battery featuring Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi, Kyle Jamieson and T Natarajan, backed by the spin of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, gives Delhi one of the most balanced attacks in the league. If they stay injury-free and manage their overseas combinations well, Delhi Capitals should be firmly in the playoff conversation and could realistically push for a top-two finish in IPL 2026.