As the countdown to IPL 2026 begins, the excitement surrounding the Delhi Capitals (DC) have reached a fever pitch. Following a busy auction where the franchise made strategic moves to fix their middle-order woes, former India cricketers Mohammad Kaif and Cheteshwar Pujara have weighed in with their predicted playing XIs. While both experts agree that the inclusion of KL Rahul provides a massive boost, they remain divided on the ideal opening partner and the structure of the bowling attack.
DC are set to kick off their campaign against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium on Wednesday, April 1. After a rollercoaster 2025 season where they narrowly missed the playoffs, the pressure is on captain Axar Patel to lead a revamped side to their maiden title.
Cheteshwar Pujara banks on an all-Indian opening duo and David Miller’s finisher role
Pujara’s vision for DC revolves around stability at the top and explosive power in the middle. He has advocated for an all-Indian opening pair consisting of Rahul and the retained youngster Abishek Porel. Interestingly, Pujara has slotted the versatile Tristan Stubbs at No. 3 , a position the South African hasn’t traditionally occupied in the IPL but one that could allow him to dictate the tempo of the game.
The highlight of Pujara’s XI is the confidence he has shown in David Miller. DC secured the veteran South African for a bargain price of ₹2 crore during the December auction. Miller, who struggled with LSG in 2025, is seen by Pujara as the X-factor who can resolve Delhi’s historical middle-order collapses.
“He will be a very important player for them. He can change the game at any time. If 70-80 runs are needed off 30 deliveries, Miller can do that on Delhi’s home ground,” Pujara noted during his analysis on Star Sports.
Pujara’s predicted DC XI: KL Rahul, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Nitish Rana, Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar/T Natarajan.
Mohammad Kaif favours international firepower with Pathum Nissanka
Mohammad Kaif, a former DC assistant coach, took a different tactical route. He believes the franchise should capitalize on the red-hot form of Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka, who was bought for ₹4 crore. Kaif envisions a formidable opening partnership between Nissanka and Rahul, which would force the Indian domestic talents further down the order.
Kaif’s lineup also finds room for the hard-hitting Sameer Rizvi at No. 4, prioritizing youth and aggressive intent. Unlike Pujara, Kaif opted to leave out Ashutosh Sharma to maintain a balance of left-handers in the lower-middle order with Miller and Axar Patel. In the bowling department, Kaif expects T Natarajan and Mitchell Starc to lead the pace battery alongside Mukesh Kumar, creating a lethal death-bowling combination.
Kaif’s predicted DC XI: KL Rahul, Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar.
With a well-rounded squad and the strategic trade-in of Nitish Rana, the Delhi Capitals appear to have the most balanced roster they have fielded in years. Whether they stick to Pujara’s local stability or Kaif’s international flair, the quest for the 2026 trophy starts under the lights in Lucknow.
