Overview:
For the bowling attack, Srikkanth selected experienced players Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, and Lungi Ngidi.
Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth shared his preferred playing XI of Delhi Capitals (DC) for the IPL 2026 season on his YouTube channel. In an unexpected decision, the 1983 World Cup winner left out left-arm pacer T. Natarajan, who was retained for Rs 10.75 crore.
Natarajan’s performance last season didn’t meet expectations, as he played only two matches, but failed to take a wicket. He registered an economy rate of over 16, which raised concerns about his impact. Srikkanth chose to go with IPL veteran KL Rahul and the rising star Abishek Porel to open the batting.
Rahul, with his wealth of experience, was a key performer for DC last season, amassing 539 runs, while the young Porel impressed with 301 runs. Srikkanth slotted Nitish Rana, a recent signing, at the No. 3 position, bringing in a new dimension to the top order. This trio looks set to provide a solid foundation for DC’s batting line-up in the upcoming season.
South African batter David Miller, who was bought for Rs 2 crore in the 2026 auction, was placed at No. 4 in the lineup. Completing his top seven, Srikkanth included last year’s regulars Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, and Ashutosh Sharma. The young all-rounder Vipraj Nigam, who impressed during his debut IPL season in 2025, was positioned at No. 8.
For the bowling attack, Srikkanth selected experienced players Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, and Lungi Ngidi. Kuldeep’s spin, Starc’s pace, and Ngidi’s consistency form a strong, and balanced attack capable of excelling in different conditions. Auqib Nabi was named as the Impact Sub.
Kris Srikkanth’s Predicted DC XI for IPL 2026: KL Rahul, David Miller, Abishek Porel, Nitish Rana, Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, Ashutosh Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi
Impact Sub: Auqib Nabi