Delhi Capitals (DC) Bharat Ratna will take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their opening game of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, April 1.
DC has a strong team, which should take them to the playoffs in 2025. They missed the top four by just one point. On a brighter note, the Axar Patel-led side got a huge boost in the mini-auction by securing the services of David Miller and Lungi Ngidi.
The 2020 finalists have a good group of Indian players with plenty of IPL experience. Despite Mitchell Starc missing the early parts of the tournament and Ben Duckett due to international commitments, DC can still rely on their amazing team depth to perform well and take them to new heights in the 2026 IPL.
Here is DC's strongest predicted XI vs LSG, Match 5, IPL 2026:
Top order: Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Rana
DC's top order may include two in-form opening batsmen in the form of Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul. With Duckett ruled out of the entire 2026 IPL, Nissanka is expected to take up the role of overseas opening batsman.
Rahul, on the other hand, is set to play in his second season in DC colours. Last time, his first campaign was excellent and he scored 539 at an average of around 54 and a strike rate of 149.72.
Nitish Rana has joined DC on a trade from Rajasthan Royals, giving him a floater who can bat anywhere in the top and middle order, something he has done very well in the past for Kolkata Knight Riders.
Middle order: Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (c), David Miller, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam
DC may include two of their star foreign players in the middle order. Tristan Stubbs And new signing Miller. The South African pair could be paired with captain Axar Patel and finishers Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam.
The middle order has a good combination of left-handed and right-handed batsmen, giving coach Hemang Badani a lot of flexibility to change the batting order depending on the situation and the bowler up front.
Ashutosh and Nigam's form last year could allow players like Stubbs, Axar and Miller to work harder in the middle overs, knowing that they have some very good finishers to come down the order. Last season, Ashutosh's strike rate was 160.62, while Nigam's strike rate was around 180.
Bowlers: Auqib Nabi Dar, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi
A lot of eyes will be on Auqib Nabi Dar this season of the IPL, as DC spent Rs 8.40 crore to secure his services. The Jammu and Kashmir bowler has had a great time in the domestic circuit and has finished the Ranji Trophy as the leading wicket-taker.
-Kuldeep YadavMeanwhile, Lungi Ngidi was DC's leading wicket-taker last season with 15 wickets, while Lungi Ngidi is in the form of his life, taking 12 wickets at an economy rate of 7.19 in the recently concluded T20 World Cup.
Probable playing XI of Delhi Capitals:
Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (c), Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi.
Impact Player: T Natarajan
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