DC IPL Auction 2026 Review: Delhi Capitals load up on batting, back raw pace

The Delhi Capitals (DC) had a measured yet interesting outing at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi. Entering the auction with a purse of Rs 21.80 crore, DC had eight slots to fill, including five overseas options. They eventually filled all available slots, following a clearly defined strategy focused on strengthening their batting depth.

DC invested heavily in reinforcing their top and middle-order, signing as many as five batters. The acquisitions of David Miller and Ben Duckett stand out as high-quality additions, bringing experience, versatility and left-handed balance to the line-up. In fact, one could argue that DC may now have an excess of batters, particularly left-handers, within their squad. Another notable decision was the franchise’s renewed faith in Prithvi Shaw, signalling that DC still view him as a long-term investment despite his recent inconsistency. They also spent Rs 4 crore on Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka.

On the bowling front, DC made their boldest move by breaking the bank for uncapped Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Dar, spending a hefty Rs 8.40 crore after an intense bidding war involving Rajasthan, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The outlay reflects DC’s willingness to back raw pace and long-term upside, even if it comes with an element of risk. They further bolstered their pace resources by adding experienced overseas options such as Lungi Ngidi and Kyle Jamieson as backup choices.

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DC squad 2026: Biggest strengths

Delhi Capitals’ biggest strengths lie in their batting depth and the balance between quality Indian and overseas options. Their top order looks stable, with Duckett likely to partner KL Rahul, providing solidity and versatility. The middle-order is reinforced by David Miller and other quality Indian batters, adding further stability.

The bowling unit offers both depth and variety, blending experienced overseas pacers like Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, Lungi Ngidi, and Kyle Jamieson with promising domestic talent such as Mukesh Kumar, Auqib Dar, and T Natarajan, giving DC multiple options across conditions.

Their spin attack also appears reliable, with Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Vipraj Nigam providing control and variety in the middle overs.

DC 2026 squad: Biggest weaknesses

Delhi Capitals’ biggest weakness could be squad balance, particularly the heavy skew towards batters and left-handers, which may limit flexibility against certain match-ups. While the batting depth is impressive, role clarity in the middle order could become an issue if multiple similar-profile players compete for the same positions. They also appear to lack a proven, experienced Indian finisher.

The bowling attack, despite its variety, carries injury and workload concerns, especially among the overseas fast bowlers. Additionally, the significant investment in uncapped pacer Aaqib comes with an element of risk, as sustained IPL-level performance remains untested.

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What could DC have done differently in IPL Auction 2026?

Delhi Capitals could have prioritised squad balance by limiting their investment in multiple batters and instead targeting a proven Indian finisher. A stronger focus on Indian fast bowlers or a bowling all-rounder would have reduced dependence on injury-prone overseas pacers.

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IPL 2026 Auction: Players purchased by DC

Auqib Dar (Rs 8.4 crore), Ben Duckett (Rs 2 crore), David Miller (Rs 2 crore), Pathum Nissanka (Rs 4 crore), Lungi Ngidi (Rs 2 crore), Kyle Jamieson (Rs 2 crore), Prithvi Shaw (Rs 75 lakh) and Sahil Parakh (Rs 30 lakh)

DC squad for IPL 2026

Axar Patel (C), KL Rahul, Nitish Rana, Abishek Porel, Ajay Mandal, Ashutosh Sharma, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, Kuldeep Yadav, Madhav Tiwari, Mitchell Starc, Sameer Rizvi, T Natarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, David Miller, Ben Duckett, Auqib Nabi, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Kyle Jamieson

DC’s predicted playing XI for IPL 2026

KL Rahul, Ben Duckett (WK) (Overseas), Nitish Rana, Axar Patel (C), Tristan Stubbs (Overseas),  David Miller (Overseas), Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc (Overseas), Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan

Impact Player: Sameer Rizvi/Mukesh Kumar