Delhi Capitals enter the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a purse of Rs 21.80 crore, eight slots to fill, and the flexibility of five overseas vacancies. With a largely settled core already in place, DC’s focus will be on fine-tuning combinations rather than rebuilding.
DC squad overview
Probable playing XII:
KL Rahul, Abishek Porel (wk), Nitish Rana, Karun Nair / Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan
Other squad members:
Ajay Mandal, Madhav Tiwari, Tripurna Vijay, Dushmantha Chameera
What Delhi Capitals need at the auction
From the 17 players retained, DC already have a near-ready playing XI with scope for tactical adjustments. One of the biggest questions heading into the auction is the opening combination. Delhi used seven different opening pairs in IPL 2025, the most by any team, highlighting a lack of stability at the top of the order.
With five overseas slots available, DC are well placed to invest in an experienced overseas opener to partner KL Rahul and bring continuity to the powerplay. This move would also allow Abishek Porel to slide into a more flexible role rather than being locked into opening duties.
Bowling remains another area of concern. While Mitchell Starc continues to be the spearhead, death bowling has historically been a weak spot for the Capitals. Added to that are T Natarajan’s fitness concerns, which could push DC to target an overseas fast bowler who can share death-over responsibilities and reduce the workload on Starc.
Delhi often operated with just three overseas players in their XII during IPL 2025, leaving them room to add quality without disrupting balance. Once the opening and fast-bowling needs are addressed, DC could also consider using an overseas slot for a backup middle-order batter, primarily as cover for Tristan Stubbs, given the lack of like-for-like replacements in the current squad.
Potential targets for Delhi Capitals
Given their overseas flexibility, DC are expected to be active in the international market, especially for proven performers:
- Quinton de Kock – experienced opener and wicketkeeper-batter
- Pathum Nissanka – top-order stability and powerplay consistency
- Jamie Smith – dynamic batter with adaptability across formats
- Jonny Bairstow – aggressive opener with IPL experience
- Matheesha Pathirana – specialist death-overs bowler
- Matt Henry – new-ball and death-over option
- Mustafizur Rahman – left-arm variation and death bowling expertise
Auction outlook
Delhi Capitals Capitals’ auction approach is expected to be measured and role-driven. With a solid Indian core and leadership stability under Axar Patel, their priority will be to lock down an opening partner for KL Rahul and strengthen death bowling, areas that directly impacted their results in 2025. If they manage to address these gaps efficiently, DC could emerge from the auction with one of the most balanced squads in IPL 2026.
