Delhi Capitals (DC) Will begin their IPL 2026 campaign with continuity in leadership Akshar Patel Will remain captain for the second consecutive season. After taking over the charge following the departure of Rishabh Pant ahead of IPL 2025, Axar is now handling the responsibility of taking the franchise a step forward. After finishing fifth last season, Delhi will be keen to break into new ground and chase their maiden IPL title. One of their biggest advantages this year is consistency on home ground – they will play all seven of their home matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, giving them consistent conditions and strong crowd support throughout the league stage.
The team is entering the season with a new look at the top of the order. KL Rahul is set to open with Pathum Nissanka, forming a new partnership that blends composure with experience. England’s Ben Duckett was initially a contender for the role, but backed out at the last minute, forcing a change of plans. During this time, Prithvi Shaw The team has made a comeback after going unsold in the last auction, which will add more depth to the batting lineup. Delhi’s schedule will soon take them on a challenging southern tour in mid-April, with matches against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). This expansion will test their adaptability to different conditions and locations.
After this tough phase, the schedule changes in Delhi’s favour. They return home for a crucial run, playing four of their next five matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium against Punjab Kings (PBKS), RCB and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), with only a brief trip to Jaipur to face Rajasthan Royals (RR) on May 1. This home-heavy stretch could prove decisive in their bid for the playoffs. Delhi will also play two afternoon matches – against Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 4 and PBKS on April 25 – which will require them to adjust to different playing conditions. He concluded his league campaign against KKR at the Eden Gardens on 24 May, having taken a short break beforehand to recover. With the pace of Mitchell Starc and Kyle Jamieson, as well as players like David Miller, Lungi Ngidi and promising all-rounder Auqib Nabi, DC have the depth in the squad to pose a serious challenge this season.
Also read: SWOT analysis of Delhi Capitals – DC’s report card ahead of IPL 2026
Delhi Capitals complete IPL 2026 schedule
- April 1 – Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals – Lucknow – 7:30 PM IST
- April 4 – Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians – Delhi – 7:30 PM IST
- April 8 – Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans – Delhi – 7:30 PM IST
- April 11 – Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals – Chennai – 7:30 PM IST
- April 18 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals – Bengaluru – 3:30 PM IST
- April 21 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals – Hyderabad – 7:30 PM IST
- April 25 – Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings – Delhi – 3:30 PM IST
- April 27 – Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – Delhi – 7:30 PM IST
- May 1 – Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals – Jaipur – 7:30 PM IST
- May 5 – Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings – Delhi – 7:30 PM IST
- May 8 – Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Delhi – 7:30 PM IST
- May 11 – Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals – Dharamshala – 7:30 PM IST
- May 17 – Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals – Delhi – 7:30 PM IST
- May 24 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals – Kolkata – 7:30 PM IST
Also read: Kris Srikkanth announces his Delhi Capitals (DC) playing XI for IPL 2026