IPL: Do Delhi Capitals have what it takes to end their title drought?

The Delhi Capitals have spent the better part of their IPL existence chasing a feeling as much as a trophy. The feeling of getting it right when it matters, of not watching a good season slip quietly into another what-if.

They have been close enough, often enough. The 2020 final felt like the start of something, a young team growing into itself, a franchise finally shedding its earlier identity. It has not quite worked out that way. Playoff appearances have come, but the finishing touch has remained elusive. Delhi have rarely been poor, but they have not quite been ruthless either.

This season arrives with a quieter kind of confidence. Not the loud, pre-season optimism that teams sell, but the sense of a group that looks settled in its own skin.

That starts with Axar Patel. There was a time when he was seen as the dependable cricketer in someone else's team. Now, he is leading this one. The transition has been gradual and, in many ways, fitting. Axar does not force himself into the game, yet he is always in it. That quality tends to travel well in a long tournament.

Around him, the squad has a certain logic to it. KL Rahul at the top offers a sense of order. He is not always in a hurry, but T20 sides need someone who understands pace, not just power. Pathum Nissanka gives them a different rhythm, and Nitish Rana remains the kind of batter who can shift roles without much fuss.

The middle order, on paper, looks like it should win them games they have no business winning. David Miller has made a career out of those situations, and Tristan Stubbs is quickly building a reputation for it. There is youth around them, players still finding their way, which is not always a weakness. Sometimes, it gives a side its edge.

The bowling, though, might be where Delhi feel most assured. A fit Mitchell Starc changes the tone of an attack. He asks questions batters cannot always answer, especially early and late in an innings. Lungi Ngidi offers control, the kind of control captains rely on when a game threatens to drift. Smart auction picks like Auqib Nabi have strengthened the squad’s depth, giving the team greater flexibility across departments.

And then there is spin. Axar and Kuldeep Yadav have bowled enough together to understand each other's rhythms. They do not just contain, they create pressure that leads to mistakes. In a format that often rewards impatience, that can be decisive.

For all of that, Delhi's concerns are not new. Injuries have had a habit of arriving at the wrong time. The uncertainty around Starc's availability early in the season is a reminder of how quickly plans can shift. Their batting, despite the names it carries, has at times looked better on paper than in the middle. Combinations have been tried, changed, and tried again.

There is also the weight of history, not in a dramatic sense, but in the quiet way it lingers. Teams that have not won tend to carry moments from previous seasons with them, even when they try not to.

What makes this year different is difficult to pin down to one thing. It is not just the squad, or the captain, or the balance. It is the sense that Delhi do not need to reinvent itself midway through the tournament. If they can hold their shape, trust what they have picked, and avoid being pulled into constant changes, they give themselves a chance.

For the Delhi Capitals, the question has never really been about ability. It has been about holding their nerve across a long season, about recognising when they are on the right track and staying on it.

They have the players to go deep again. Whether they finally go one step further will depend on how well they handle the moments that have undone them before.

DC'S STRENGTHS

It is not often that you struggle to find a weak link in a Delhi side, but this squad comes close. The Delhi Capitals look well-rounded, with enough experience in the batting and genuine wicket-taking options with the ball. The balance feels right, which has not always been the case with them.

KL Rahul is one to watch. The runs have never been an issue with him. What this season could demand is something more defining, an IPL where he shapes results and carries the side through phases that tend to decide campaigns. Alongside him, the spin pairing of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav remains one of the more reliable combinations in the tournament.

For Delhi, the larger picture is hard to ignore. This feels like as good a chance as they have had. With Rahul, Axar, and Mitchell Starc forming the core, there is enough quality here to go deep. If they stay fit and the batting holds its shape through the season, a top-four finish should be well within reach. The bowling has the look of a title-winning unit. The batting, as always, will decide how far they go.

DC'S WEAKNESSES

There is no obvious flaw you can point to in this Delhi Capitals side, which is unusual in itself. The only area that invites a second look is the Indian pace group. T Natarajan and Mukesh Kumar have shown they can deliver, but this is the kind of season where they will be asked to do it consistently, across conditions and under pressure.

Fitness, as always with Delhi, sits quietly in the background. Axar Patel has a lot of cricket in his legs. For Delhi, it is rarely just about who plays well, but who is available long enough to build something. The batting, too, has had a habit of losing its way, with changes at the top often breaking whatever rhythm they manage to find. Closing games remains a conversation they have not quite moved past.

A fair bit will depend on David Miller and Tristan Stubbs settling in early. If one of them goes quiet, there is not an obvious like-for-like option waiting in reserve.

The season has already thrown up its first adjustment. Ben Duckett's late withdrawal has left a gap at the top, and a replacement is still to come. Starc, meanwhile, will miss the opening games, with Cricket Australia taking a cautious approach with his return.

DC FULL SQUAD 2026

Delhi Capitals retained players: Nitish Rana (traded in from RR), Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Ashutosh Sharma, Axar Patel, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, T Natarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Vipraj Nigam, Mukesh Kumar, Ajay Mandal, Madhav Tiwari

Players purchased at IPL Auction 2026: David Miller (Rs 2 crore), Ben Duckett (Rs 2 crore, withdrawn), Auqib Dar (Rs 8.4 crore), Pathum Nissanka (Rs 4 crore), Lungi Ngidi (Rs 2 crore), Sahil Parikh (Rs 30 lakh), Prithvi Shaw (Rs 75 lakh), Kyle Jamieson (Rs 2 crore)

DC: 3 PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR

KL Rahul: The experienced batter remains the pillar of Delhi Capitals' top order. In IPL 2025, he scored over 539 runs at a strike rate of 149.72, underlining both consistency and a shift towards a more aggressive approach. He heads into the new season in strong touch after scoring successive centuries in the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy knockouts. With Faf du Plessis no longer part of the setup, Rahul is expected to take on added responsibility at the top, likely alongside a new opening partner.

David Miller: For the Proteas great, IPL 2025 was underwhelming. He managed a strike rate of 127.49 across 11 innings for Lucknow Super Giants, a return well below his usual standards as a finisher. A move to a new franchise offers him a reset. Miller showed signs of form during the 2026 T20 World Cup, including a match-winning 63 against India in Ahmedabad. Delhi Capitals will hope he can carry that momentum and rediscover his role as a reliable closer in tight situations.

Axar Patel: DC's very own Bapu enters IPL 2026 with increased scrutiny as he looks to lead Delhi Capitals to their first title. Now, in his second season as captain and his eighth with the franchise, Axar has said he feels more settled in the role. At 32, this season could shape his leadership trajectory. A strong campaign will not only strengthen Delhi's title push but also enhance his credentials within India's leadership group.

DC POSSIBLE PLAYING XIS

Batting first:

Playing XI: KL Rahul, Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav

Impact Sub: T Natarajan

Batting second:

Playing XI: KL Rahul, Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel, Sameer Rizvi, Vipraj Nigam, Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan

Impact Sub: Pathum Nissanka

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