Back Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026

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

Delhi Capitals enter IPL 2026 with a fresh leadership core and one of the most balanced attacks in the tournament. Led by all-rounder Axar Patel and guided by head coach Hemang Badani, the franchise will again rely on a mix of high-impact Indian batters, world-class overseas pace, and proven spin options. With Arun Jaitley Stadium back as a full-capacity venue, Delhi will aim to turn their home ground into a difficult place for visiting teams.

The 2026 squad has strong top-order options in Prithvi Shaw, Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul, while finishers like David Miller and Tristan Stubbs add power at the death. On the bowling side, the presence of Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi, Kyle Jamieson and Kuldeep Yadav makes Delhi Capitals one of the most dangerous bowling units on paper. With better consistency and smarter use of conditions at home and away, DC should be in serious contention for the playoffs.

For ball‑by‑ball updates through the season, you can follow the latest IPL 2026 live score coverage across every Delhi Capitals match.

Delhi Capitals 2026 Upcoming Matches

Here are the confirmed early fixtures featuring Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026.

Keep tracking every change in momentum and updated IPL 2026 score for these games through our match centres and the main IPL 2026 score hub.

Quick Facts: Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026

For the full list of retained names, new signings and detailed roles, check the squad section on Delhi Capitals Players.

Squad Breakdown

Delhi Capitals have built a squad that can adapt to different match situations and venues. There is depth in both top-order and middle-order batting, multiple wicket-keeping options, three-dimensional all-rounders, and a pace‑spin combination that suits Indian conditions as well as bouncy surfaces away from home. Overseas experience blends with domestic talent, giving the team several tactical combinations to play with.

Batters

• Karun Nair – Technically sound middle-order batter who can stabilise innings and rotate strike against spin.
• Nitish Rana – Left-handed top/middle-order batter, useful against spin with the ability to accelerate in the middle overs.
• Sameer Rizvi – Aggressive young batter, best suited as a finisher with natural six-hitting ability.
• Prithvi Shaw – Explosive opener who can take the game away in the powerplay with high-risk strokeplay.
• David Miller – Experienced left-handed finisher, renowned for chasing under pressure and clearing long boundaries.
• Ben Duckett – Versatile top-order batter, strong square of the wicket and excellent against spin in the middle overs.
• Pathum Nissanka – Classy opener who provides solidity and can bat deep into the innings when conditions are tough.
• Ashutosh Sharma – Middle-order dasher capable of quick cameos and targeting specific bowlers.
• Tripurana Vijay – Domestic batter who offers stability at No. 3 or No. 4 with a busy style at the crease.

Wicket-keepers (WK-Batter)

• KL Rahul – Senior top-order wicket-keeper batter, capable of both anchoring and accelerating, key to Delhi’s powerplay plans.
• Tristan Stubbs – Hard-hitting middle-order keeper, adds finishing power and flexibility with his 360-degree stroke range.
• Abishek Porel – Young keeper-batter, reliable behind the stumps and a handy option in the lower middle-order.

All-Rounders

• Axar Patel – Captain and frontline all-rounder; accurate left-arm spinner and clean striker down the ground.
• Ajay Jadav Mandal – Left-arm spinning all-rounder who can bowl economical overs and chip in with lower-order runs.
• Madhav Tiwari – Batting all-rounder, suited to the middle order, offering a few overs of part-time seam or spin.
• Auqib Nabi Dar – Seam-bowling all-rounder who strengthens the pace unit and adds depth at No. 7 or 8.

Bowlers

• Kuldeep Yadav – Premier left-arm wrist-spinner, wicket-taker in the middle overs with variations and drift.
• Mukesh Kumar – Indian seamer known for hard lengths and control at the death, effective with the older ball.
• T Natarajan – Left-arm yorker specialist, valuable in powerplay and slog overs with his variations.
• Vipraj Nigam – Domestic pace option, capable of hitting the deck and providing backup in long tournaments.
• Mitchell Starc – World-class left-arm fast bowler, new-ball swing and high pace make him a strike weapon.
• Lungi Ngidi – Hit-the-deck quick, useful on bouncy tracks and strong at bowling hard lengths through the middle.
• Kyle Jamieson – Tall seamer offering bounce and movement, can also contribute handy runs down the order.
• Dushmantha Chameera – Skiddy fast bowler, effective with cross-seam and change of pace in T20s.
• Sahil Parakh – Young bowling option who adds depth and flexibility for rotation across the league phase.

Home Stadium – The Fortress

Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi remains one of the trickier venues for visiting sides in IPL 2026. The surface usually starts on the slower side, offering grip for spinners and encouraging cutters from seamers, especially under dry conditions. Scores around the 160–175 range are often competitive, although a fresh pitch and strong top-order batting can push par higher in night games.

For Delhi Capitals, this ground allows them to maximise the value of their spin and change-of-pace attack. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel become central to plans in the middle overs, while pace options like Mitchell Starc and Mukesh Kumar can use variations smartly at the death. The short straight boundaries demand accuracy, but the vociferous Delhi crowd and familiarity with the conditions give the home side a clear tactical edge.

Season Outlook

Delhi Capitals look well balanced for IPL 2026, with quality at the top, power in the middle, and one of the most fearsome fast-bowling line-ups in the competition. If their domestic batters provide consistent starts and the middle order finds a stable finishing combination, DC should be strong contenders for a top-four finish. The experience of KL Rahul, David Miller and Mitchell Starc adds big-game temperament to a squad that has often lacked composure in crunch moments.

Much will depend on how Axar Patel handles the dual responsibility of captaincy and key all-rounder. Effective rotation between Starc, Ngidi, Jamieson and Chameera, combined with Kuldeep’s wicket-taking spells, could turn close games in Delhi’s favour. With smarter execution at home and at least a 50% win rate away, Delhi Capitals have a realistic shot at a deep playoff run in IPL 2026.