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The Delhi Capitals (DC) were one of the strongest teams on paper in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The first half of the season showed just that: 5 wins from 7 matches. However, as has been their history, Delhi failed to show up when it mattered the most. The momentum faded in the backend as Delhi won just 2 matches in the remainder of the tournament and couldn’t qualify for the Playoffs.
Delhi have upgraded themselves since. At the IPL 2026 auction, they bought a familiar face in Prithvi Shaw. Reinforced their fast bowling bowler and strengthened the middle-order batting. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) got over their hump last season. Now, it’s time for Delhi to end the title drought.
Will Prithvi Shaw open with KL Rahul?
The burning question is the top-order. Last year, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Faf du Plessis were the starters. Now, Delhi will shift to KL Rahul. He’s been confirmed to open. It’s the second opener that will start a conversation. Abhishek Porel, Prithvi and Pathum Nissanka are all viable options. Delhi might lean towards Porel, who was among their highest scorers.
Homeboy Nitish Rana has been traded from the Rajasthan Royals and will most likely slot in at three. The southpaw is an excellent player of spin and can carry the momentum in the middle overs. David Miller’s inclusion takes Delhi’s middle-order, Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma, to another level.
Predicted Delhi Capitals Playing XI vs LSG
| 1 | KL Rahul (wk) | Wicketkeeper opener |
| 2 | Abhishek Porel | Opener |
| 3 | Nitish Rana | Top-order batter |
| 4 | Tristan Stubbs | Middle-order batter |
| 5 | David Miller | Middle-order batter |
| 6 | Ashutosh Sharma | Finisher |
| 7 | Axar Patel | All-rounder |
| 8 | Vipraj Nigam | Bowling all-rounder |
| 9 | Kuldeep Yadav | Left-arm wrist spinner |
| 10 | Lungi Ngidi | Right-arm fast bowler |
| 11 | Dushmanta Chameera | Right-arm fast bowler |
| Impact Player | Mukesh Kumar/ Karun Nair/ Sameer Rizvi/ Auqib Nabi/ T Natarajan |
Who replaces Mitchell Starc?
Axar Patel and Vipraj Nigam provide the necessary balance as all-rounders. The bowling department is actually another interesting discussion topic. Dushmanta Chameera and Kuldeep Yadav were good last year for Delhi, so naturally, they’ll start. Now, since Delhi won’t pick Nissanka and don’t have Mitchell Starc since he’s currently out with injury, they can opt for another foreign fast bowler and use an Indian impact sub.
Lungi Ngidi is the best option they have. We saw what he did in the T20 World Cup 2026, using his slower ones with exceptional efficiency. He can bowl with the new ball and in the latter half as well. Then, Delhi can use either a fast bowler or a batter, depending on the match situation.
The post Predicted Delhi Capitals Playing XI vs LSG: Who’ll replace Mitchell Starc & will Prithvi Shaw return? appeared first on Inside Sport India.
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