Delhi Capitals Eye Explosive Openers and Death Bowler at IPL Auction 2026

The Delhi Capitals (DC) are gearing up for the IPL 2026 auction, set to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16, with a clear strategy to address key gaps in their squad. Following a somewhat disappointing 2025 season where they finished fifth, narrowly missing the playoffs, the franchise is determined to bolster its lineup and aim for their first IPL title. With a remaining purse of ₹21.80 crore and eight slots to fill, including five overseas positions, DC has some crucial decisions to make.

Current Squad and Major Gaps

After the retention deadline, Delhi Capitals have retained a core group of players, blending experience with youth. Key retentions include captain Axar Patel, experienced batter KL Rahul, the dynamic spinner Kuldeep Yadav, and Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc. Other retained players are Nitish Rana (traded in from RR), Sameer Rizvi, T Natarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Abishek Porel, Ajay Mandal, Ashutosh Sharma, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, Vipraj Nigam, Madhav Tiwari, and Mukesh Kumar.

However, the release of explosive top-order batsmen like Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk has created significant gaps at the top of the batting order. The team also lacks a reliable death bowler to support Mitchell Starc. The departures of Mohit Sharma and Darshan Nalkande have further thinned their fast-bowling options. The team is aiming to avoid a situation like the 2025 season, where they had to shuffle through eight opening pairs, highlighting the need for stability at the top.

Top Targets

To address these issues, Delhi Capitals are expected to prioritize an explosive overseas opener and a reliable death bowler at the auction.

Several players could be on DC's radar:

• Ben Duckett: The English left-hander is known for his aggressive approach and ability to take on both pace and spin, making him a potentially ideal fit to bolster DC's top order.
• Quinton de Kock: With the release of Faf du Plessis, DC might consider the experienced South African as an option to open the innings.
• Matheesha Pathirana: The Sri Lankan is known for his expertise in bowling consistent yorkers, making him a valuable asset in the final overs. Pathirana could address DC's late-overs woes and add much-needed strength to their bowling attack.
• Jacob Duffy: To reinforce their pace attack, DC might also consider New Zealand's Jacob Duffy.
• Other potential targets: Jonny Bairstow and Prithvi Shaw have also been mentioned as potential opening options.

Auction Strategy and Remaining Purse

With ₹21.80 crore in their purse, Delhi Capitals will be looking for value buys to fill the remaining slots. They have eight slots to fill, with five of them being overseas slots. The team might also look at specialist Indian fast bowlers and spinners to support their core. The focus will be on balance rather than overhaul, aiming to build a more balanced and threatening XI for 2026. The team will also aim to add strategic picks in order to fill the gaps in the key areas.

The Delhi Capitals' performance at the IPL 2026 auction will be crucial in shaping their chances for the upcoming season. Their fans will be hoping that the team management can make the right choices to build a strong and competitive squad capable of challenging for the title.