Delhi Capitals enter IPL 2026 with a completely revamped squad under new captain Axar Patel, retained at ₹16.5 Cr. The franchise has made bold moves to address their historical weakness - experience in high-pressure situations. The headline acquisition is KL Rahul at ₹14 Cr, who brings 5,222 career runs and a 46.21 average, making him the fourth-highest run-scorer in IPL history.
The strategic shift is clear: DC has prioritized proven match-winners over potential. David Miller, acquired for just ₹7.5 Cr, brings 3,077 career runs and ranks #5 on the IPL career match-winners list. As former India cricketer Anil Kumble noted, "Experience is something the Delhi Capitals clearly lacked... adding someone with David Miller's experience and ability is a big plus. Pairing him with Tristan Stubbs, his South African teammate, strengthens the middle order significantly."
The bowling attack is anchored by Mitchell Starc at ₹11.75 Cr - the only bowler with a 5-wicket haul in IPL 2025 (5/35). Kuldeep Yadav at ₹13.25 Cr provides elite spin, ranking #2 among most economical bowlers in 2025 (7.08 economy). T. Natarajan at ₹10.75 Cr adds death-over expertise with his yorker variations.
The biggest gamble is Auqib Dar at ₹8.4 Cr - a record uncapped price after DC won a bidding war with RR, RCB, and SRH. This signals DC's belief in his all-round potential as a pace-bowling option.
Strategic Direction: DC has built a squad heavy on international experience and match-winners, pairing them with emerging Indian talent like Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma. This is a win-now squad designed to finally deliver a maiden IPL title.
One-line assessment: A star-studded lineup strongest in top-order batting and spin bowling, with concerns around pace bowling economy and untested combinations at death.
| Category | Players | Key Investments |
|---|---|---|
| Batters (9) | KL Rahul, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Karun Nair, Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, Prithvi Shaw, Sahil Parakh | KL Rahul ₹14 Cr, Stubbs ₹10 Cr, Miller ₹7.5 Cr |
| Bowlers (7) | Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, T. Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Dushmantha Chameera, Kyle Jamieson | Kuldeep ₹13.25 Cr, Starc ₹11.75 Cr, Natarajan ₹10.75 Cr |
| All-rounders (9) | Axar Patel (C), Nitish Rana, Ashutosh Sharma, Auqib Dar, Sameer Rizvi, Vipraj Nigam, Madhav Tiwari, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay | Axar ₹16.5 Cr, Auqib ₹8.4 Cr |
| Wicketkeepers | No specialist (KL Rahul, Stubbs, Porel can keep) | Multi-role flexibility |
| Metric | Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indian | 17 | Core of the squad |
| Overseas | 8 | Strong options - selection dilemmas |
| Veterans (50+ matches) | 8 | KL, Miller, Axar, Kuldeep, Starc, Nitish, Karun, Natarajan |
| Experienced (20-49 matches) | 4 | Stubbs, Mukesh, Abishek, Ashutosh |
| Developing (1-19 matches) | 5 | Chameera, Ngidi, Sameer, Vipraj, Madhav |
| Uncapped | 8 | Auqib Dar leads uncapped contingent |
| Rank | Player | Price | Expected Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Axar Patel | ₹16.5 Cr | Captain, spin all-rounder, middle overs anchor |
| 2 | KL Rahul | ₹14 Cr | Premium opener, wicket-keeper option |
| 3 | Kuldeep Yadav | ₹13.25 Cr | Lead spinner, middle overs wicket-taker |
| 4 | Mitchell Starc | ₹11.75 Cr | Powerplay enforcer, death specialist |
| 5 | T. Natarajan | ₹10.75 Cr | Yorker specialist, left-arm variety |
| 6 | Tristan Stubbs | ₹10 Cr | Power finisher, match-winner |
The top 6 investments are all proven performers with 50+ IPL matches (except Stubbs), signaling DC's intent to compete immediately rather than build for the future.
Arun Jaitley Stadium typically offers a batting-friendly surface that deteriorates as the match progresses, providing assistance to spinners in the second innings. Team aggregates show 16 runs per match average and 9.08 bowling economy - indicating DC bowlers struggle slightly at home.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axar Patel | 27 | 595 | 35.00 | 144.07 | Home specialist |
| Karun Nair | 18 | 511 | 31.94 | 139.24 | Consistent |
| Abishek Porel | 12 | 366 | 33.27 | 161.95 | High SR |
| Tristan Stubbs | 10 | 273 | 54.60 | 193.62 | Elite finisher |
| KL Rahul | 9 | 253 | 36.14 | 139.78 | Reliable |
| David Miller | 12 | 248 | 31.00 | 124.00 | Lower SR |
| Player | Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axar Patel | 27 | 21 | 28.62 | 6.92 | Best economy |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 21 | 20 | 32.50 | 8.90 | Wicket-taker |
| Mukesh Kumar | 15 | 14 | 38.14 | 11.24 | High economy |
| Mitchell Starc | 5 | 7 | 24.71 | 9.61 | Limited sample |
| T. Natarajan | 3 | 5 | 20.40 | 9.27 | Promising |
| Ground | Avg Runs/Match | Avg Economy | Key Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wankhede Stadium | 20 | 8.95 | KL Rahul (397 @ 44.11), Stubbs excels on pace tracks |
| MA Chidambaram Stadium | 15 | 7.57 | Best bowling economy, Kuldeep (6 wkts @ 17.83) |
| MCA Stadium (Pune) | 13 | 7.19 | Excellent bowling venue, Miller (302 @ 43.14) |
| Dubai International | 20 | 7.65 | KL Rahul (458 @ 38.17), UAE conditions suit spinners |
| Ground | Avg Economy | Key Struggles | Recommended Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eden Gardens | 10.67 | Worst bowling economy | Extra spinner, bat first |
| Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium | 11.01 | Pace struggles | Use Kuldeep heavily |
| Holkar Stadium | 10.56 | High-scoring | Back batting strength |
| Player | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | 976 | 69.71 | 135.56 | Dominant |
| Tristan Stubbs | 122 | 61.00 | 210.34 | Impact player |
| David Miller | 427 | 32.85 | 143.29 | Consistent |
| Axar Patel | 281 | 23.42 | 144.85 | Explosive |
| Player | Wickets | Average | Economy | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axar Patel | 21 | 26.14 | 7.32 | Elite record |
| T. Natarajan | 12 | 22.33 | 8.12 | RCB specialist |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 9 | 38.44 | 8.87 | Wicket-taker |
Axar Patel's 21 wickets against RCB is his highest against any opponent. Combined with KL Rahul's 782 runs at 71.09 average, RCB is DC's most favorable all-round matchup.
| Player | Wickets | Average | Economy | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuldeep Yadav | 19 | 22.79 | 8.02 | Best opponent |
| Mitchell Starc | 13 | 16.46 | 8.45 | Devastating |
| Axar Patel | 17 | 31.24 | 7.50 | Consistent |
| Player | Performance | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Team bowling | 10.52 economy | Worst opponent |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 5 wkts @ 35.40 | Struggles |
| T. Natarajan | 3 wkts @ 53.33 | Poor record |
| Player | Performance | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Team bowling | 10.19 economy | Second worst |
| Batting | 751 runs (KL), 389 (Miller), 119 (Stubbs) | Strong |
The RR matchup is paradoxical - DC's batting thrives (Miller averages 77.80, Stubbs 119.00!) but bowling struggles. Tactical implication: Set big totals and back the batting unit.
| Player | Bowled % | IPL Rank | Tactical Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | 38.5% (25/65 wkts) | #2 | Elite yorker, targets stumps |
| Player | Bowled % | IPL Rank | Tactical Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitish Rana | 5.9% (6/112 innings) | #3 | Rarely bowled |
Nitish Rana ranks #3 in bowled resistance, meaning he rarely loses his wicket to clean bowling. This makes him valuable against yorker specialists - he can negotiate pace effectively.
| Player | Tail Wickets | % of Total | IPL Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | 23 | 35.4% | #1 |
| T. Natarajan | 13 | 19.4% | #4 |
| Player | Career Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | 5,222 | 46.21 | 136.03 | #4 career runs |
| Abishek Porel | 661 | 25.42 | 149.89 | High SR |
| Ben Duckett | 0 | - | - | Uncapped in IPL |
| Pathum Nissanka | 0 | - | - | Uncapped in IPL |
| Karun Nair | 1,694 | 23.86 | 131.73 | Versatile |
| Metric | Best Opponents | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| vs MI | 976 @ 69.71 | Dominant |
| vs RCB | 782 @ 71.09 | Dominant |
| vs RR | 751 @ 50.07 | Strong |
| vs CSK | 630 @ 45.00 | Reliable |
Primary: KL Rahul + Abishek Porel
Backup: Pathum Nissanka provides overseas option; Karun Nair offers Indian flexibility
Tactical note: Against MI specifically, KL Rahul MUST open - his 69.71 average is 23 runs above his career average.
| Player | Career Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitish Rana | 2,853 | 27.97 | 136.77 | 20 fifties |
| David Miller | 3,077 | 35.37 | 138.60 | #5 match-winner |
| Karun Nair | 1,694 | 23.86 | 131.73 | Versatile |
| Sameer Rizvi | 229 | 17.62 | 140.98 | Developing |
| Miller's Best Matchups | Runs | Average | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs RR | 389 | 77.80 | Must play |
| vs DC | 540 | 38.57 | - |
| vs MI | 427 | 32.85 | Reliable |
Backup: Karun Nair can slot at No. 3-4 if both overseas finishers are unavailable
Tactical note: Against RR specifically, Miller MUST bat at No. 4 given his 77.80 average.
| Player | Career Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 2025 Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tristan Stubbs | 705 | 41.47 | 163.19 | 300 @ 50.00, SR 150.75 |
| Axar Patel | 1,916 | 22.02 | 133.99 | 263 @ 26.30, SR 157.49 |
| Ashutosh Sharma | 393 | 28.07 | 163.75 | 204 @ 29.14, SR 160.63 |
| Vipraj Nigam | 247 | 20.58 | 179.75 | #4 career SR |
| Stubbs' Elite Records | Stat | IPL Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Match-winner score | 18.0 | #1 |
| Top-order average | 71.00 | #1 |
| Top-order SR | 284.00 | #1 |
| Consistency rating | 67.67 | #4 |
| Player | Career Wickets | Economy | 2025 Form | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | 65 | 8.61 | 14 wkts @ 10.17 | 5-wkt haul |
| T. Natarajan | 67 | 9.09 | 8 wkts @ 9.38 | Left-arm |
| Mukesh Kumar | 36 | 10.40 | 12 wkts @ 10.33 | High economy |
| Lungi Ngidi | 29 | 8.53 | 4 wkts @ 10.13 | Best career econ |
| Starc's Best Opponents | Wickets | Average | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs SRH | 13 | 16.46 | Devastating |
| vs PBKS | 7 | 13.29 | Elite |
| vs LSG | 8 | 14.63 | Match-winner |
Primary: Mitchell Starc - pace, wicket-taking ability
Rotation: Lungi Ngidi (8.53 career economy) for high-scoring gamesBackup: Mukesh Kumar or Kyle Jamieson
| Player | Career Wickets | Economy | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuldeep Yadav | 102 | 8.04 | #2 economy 2025 (7.08) |
| Axar Patel | 128 | 7.35 | Best team economy |
| Nitish Rana | 10 | 8.44 | Part-time off-spin |
| Vipraj Nigam | 11 | 9.13 | Left-arm unorthodox |
| Kuldeep's Best Opponents | Wickets | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs KKR | 10 | 12.50 | 7.35 |
| vs SRH | 19 | 22.79 | 8.02 |
| vs LSG | 9 | 22.33 | 7.54 |
| vs PBKS | 12 | 21.50 | 8.06 |
Primary: Kuldeep Yadav + Axar Patel (8 overs combined in middle)
Rotation: Vipraj Nigam for left-arm unorthodox varietyBackup: Nitish Rana for additional spin if needed
Rotation Strategy: - vs KKR: Kuldeep must bowl 4 overs (12.50 avg)
| Player | Career Wickets | Economy | Death Overs Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| T. Natarajan | 67 | 9.09 | Yorker specialist |
| Mitchell Starc | 65 | 8.61 | #1 5-wkt haul 2025 |
| Mukesh Kumar | 36 | 10.40 | Economy concern |
| Lungi Ngidi | 29 | 8.53 | #4 death SR (12.00) |
| Natarajan's Best Opponents | Wickets | Average | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs KKR | 15 | 23.40 | Most wickets |
| vs RCB | 12 | 22.33 | Strong |
| vs CSK | 10 | 23.80 | Reliable |
Primary: T. Natarajan (overs 18-20) + Mitchell Starc (over 16-17)
Backup: Lungi Ngidi for strike rate; Mukesh Kumar if conditions suit
Tactical note: Against KKR, use Natarajan at death (15 wickets at 23.40) - his best opponent.
| Player | When to Use | Data Support | Replaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lungi Ngidi | Home games, death overs | 12.00 death SR (#4), 8.53 career econ | Mukesh Kumar |
| Kyle Jamieson | Swing conditions | NZ seam movement | Mukesh Kumar |
| Pathum Nissanka | Need overseas opener | Sri Lankan international | Abishek Porel |
| Vipraj Nigam | Extra batting depth | 179.75 SR (#4 in IPL career) | Mukesh Kumar |
| Karun Nair | Extra Indian batter | 172.17 SR in 2025 | Ashutosh Sharma |
| Auqib Dar | Test uncapped talent | ₹8.4 Cr investment | Mukesh Kumar |
| Opponent | Batting Focus | Bowling Focus | Key Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| MI | KL Rahul (69.71 avg) | Axar (14 wkts), Mukesh (8 wkts) | KL Rahul must open |
| RCB | KL Rahul (71.09 avg) | Axar (21 wkts), Natarajan (12 wkts) | Axar's best opponent |
| SRH | Nitish Rana (557 runs) | Kuldeep (19 wkts), Starc (13 wkts) | Starc's best opponent |
| KKR | KL Rahul (522 runs) | Kuldeep (10 @ 12.5), Natarajan (15 wkts) | Kuldeep essential |
| RR | Miller (77.80 avg), Stubbs (119 avg!) | Kuldeep (12 wkts), Starc (7 wkts) | Back batting |
| GT | Stubbs (78 @ 78), Axar (201 runs) | Kuldeep (5 wkts), Mukesh (5 wkts) | Bowling struggles |
| LSG | Stubbs (106 @ 106), Axar (128 runs) | Starc (8 @ 14.63), Kuldeep (9 wkts) | Starc's best |
| PBKS | KL Rahul, Nitish Rana | Axar (11 @ 17, 5.5 econ!), Starc (7 @ 13.29) | Axar dominates |
| CSK | KL Rahul (630 @ 45), Miller (405 runs) | Natarajan (10 wkts), Axar (11 wkts) | Balanced matchup |
| Venue | Adjustment | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Arun Jaitley (Home) | Replace Mukesh with Ngidi | Mukesh's 11.24 home economy |
| Eden Gardens (KKR) | Extra spinner, bat first | 10.67 bowling economy |
| MA Chidambaram (CSK) | Dual spin with Kuldeep + Axar | 7.57 economy - best venue |
| Wankhede (MI) | Back batting unit | KL (397 runs), Stubbs excels |
| MCA Pune | Prioritize Kuldeep | 7.19 bowling economy |
| Narendra Modi (GT) | Extra pace, aggressive batting | GT matchup struggles |
| Role | Primary | Backup | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opener | KL Rahul, Abishek Porel | Pathum Nissanka, Karun Nair | KL must open vs MI (69.71 avg) |
| Top Order (3-4) | Nitish Rana, David Miller | Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi | Miller must play vs RR (77.80 avg) |
| Middle Order (5-7) | Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma | Vipraj Nigam | Stubbs #1 match-winner |
| Powerplay Bowling | Mitchell Starc | Lungi Ngidi, Kyle Jamieson | Starc #2 clean bowled specialist |
| Middle Overs | Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel | Vipraj Nigam, Nitish Rana | Kuldeep #2 economy 2025 |
| Death Overs | T. Natarajan, Mitchell Starc | Lungi Ngidi | Natarajan #4 tail specialist |