Delhi Capitals IPL 2026 Squad, Fixtures and Complete Player List
Delhi Capitals enter IPL 2026 in an interesting position. They have genuine quality in key areas — Mitchell Starc and Kuldeep Yadav as a bowling pair is as good as anything in the competition — but the departure of David Warner, Faf du Plessis, and Jake Fraser-McGurk has left a gap at the top of the order that needs filling. Axar Patel leads the side for the second year running, with Ricky Ponting pushing DC hard toward their first IPL title. See how all 10 squads compare in the IPL 2026 season guide.
The late addition of Kyle Jamieson at auction gave DC exactly the bowling depth they needed.
DC IPL 2026 Fixtures
| # | Date | Day | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 01 Apr | Wed | LSG vs DC | Lucknow |
| 2 | 04 Apr | Sat | DC vs MI | Delhi |
| 3 | 08 Apr | Wed | DC vs GT | Delhi |
| 4 | 11 Apr | Sat | CSK vs DC | Chennai |
DC play two of their first four confirmed fixtures at home in Delhi. Check the IPL 2026 schedule for the full calendar as BCCI releases remaining fixtures.
DC IPL 2026 Squad
Captain: Axar Patel | Coach: Ricky Ponting | Home Ground: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
| Player | Role | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Axar Patel (c) | All-rounder | India |
| KL Rahul | WK-Batter | India |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler | India |
| Mitchell Starc | Bowler | Australia |
| Tristan Stubbs | Batter | South Africa |
| Karun Nair | Batter | India |
| T Natarajan | Bowler | India |
| Nitish Rana | Batter | India |
| Abishek Porel | WK-Batter | India |
| Ashutosh Sharma | All-rounder | India |
| Mukesh Kumar | Bowler | India |
| Dushmantha Chameera | Bowler | Sri Lanka |
| Vipraj Nigam | Bowler | India |
| Madhav Tiwari | Batter | India |
| Sameer Rizvi | Batter | India |
| Tripurana Vijay | Batter | India |
| Ajay Mandal | All-rounder | India |
| Kyle Jamieson | All-rounder | New Zealand |
What Makes DC Dangerous in 2026
Mitchell Starc is one of the best left-arm fast bowlers in world cricket. In the powerplay, he swings the ball, hits the pitch hard, and takes wickets. At the death, he executes yorkers at pace. Very few batting lineups have a straightforward answer when Starc is bowling on a full length with full pace.
Kuldeep Yadav in tandem with Starc gives DC a bowling pair that can hurt teams in all phases. Kuldeep’s wrist spin is difficult to read, his variations are genuinely deceptive, and he has been one of the most consistent IPL spinners over the last three seasons.
KL Rahul at the top gives DC the stable, experienced batter they need to anchor the innings while others play around him. His wicketkeeping adds an extra dimension and a strong specialist option behind the stumps.
Axar Patel as captain-all-rounder is underrated in this role. He bowls crucial middle-over overs with economy, contributes 25-35 runs regularly with the bat, and reads pressure situations well. Ponting’s tactical influence adds another layer to DC’s decision-making.
DC’s Title Chances: Key Points
- Starc and Kuldeep are the most complete pace-spin bowling combination in the IPL
- The top-order depth is thinner than ideal after the departure of Fraser-McGurk and Faf — DC need someone to step up early
- Kyle Jamieson adds batting depth and genuine seam bowling variety
- Ponting’s coaching record at DC is excellent — he consistently gets more from this squad than expectations suggest
Follow DC’s campaign on the IPL 2026 live streaming guide to watch every match.
FAQs
Who is DC’s captain for IPL 2026? Axar Patel continues as captain of Delhi Capitals for IPL 2026.
Who coaches Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026? Ricky Ponting is the head coach of Delhi Capitals.
Is Mitchell Starc playing for DC in IPL 2026? Yes, Mitchell Starc is retained and will play for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026.
Why did DC release Faf du Plessis and Fraser-McGurk? Both players were released as part of DC’s squad restructuring ahead of IPL 2026.
Who did DC sign late at the IPL 2026 auction? Kyle Jamieson was DC’s final signing at the auction, adding important all-round bowling depth.
When is DC’s first IPL 2026 home match? DC’s first home match is on April 4 against Mumbai Indians at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
