IPL 2026: Delhi Capitals’ strongest predicted XI against Rajasthan Royals

The Delhi Capitals (DC) play host to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their penultimate game of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) in Match 62 to be played on Sunday, May 17, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Axar Patel’s side are mathematically still in with a chance to qualify for the playoffs, but they will need a host of other results to go their way. They come into the game against RR on the back of a dramatic three-wicket victory over the Punjab Kings in Dharamshala.

DC’s last game was significant, with their middle-order finally clicking and winning them the match after their top order failed to deliver them with quick runs in the powerplay. 

Here is DC’s strongest predicted XI vs RR, Match 62, IPL 2026:

Top Order: Abishek Porel, KL Rahul (WK), Sahil Parakh

To accommodate two overseas middle-order batters and seamers, DC could once again be without Pathum Nissanka, with Abhishek Porel opening alongside KL Rahul in the last game. Rahul will continue to be his side’s talisman with the bat, having already scored 477 runs at a strike-rate of 178, whilst averaging upwards of 40. The wicketkeeper-batter has had a few underwhelming performances in past matches and is due a big score soon.

Middle Order: Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (C), Madhav Tiwari

DC’s middle order had an excellent time in their previous game against PBKS, with the returning David Miller scoring 51 from just 28 balls. However, it was the innings from captain Axar Patel which was even more impressive. The left-hander scored 30-ball 56 following a torrid season, where he averaged less than 10 before his match-winning innings.

Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Starc

DC are in a unique position where they can afford to play two genuine world-beating fast bowlers in their XI in Mitchell Starc and Lungi Ngidi. However, their captain Axar Patel is still his side’s leading wicket-taker with 10 scalps, with the South African seamer having taken eight wickets from 10 outings. Kuldeep Yadav, meanwhile, has struggled this season, having picked up only seven wickets all season at an economy of 10.66.

DC’s predicted playing XI vs RR in Match 62, IPL 2026:

Abishek Porel, KL Rahul (WK), Sahil Parakh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (C), Madhav Tiwari, Kuldeep Yadav, Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Starc
 
Impact Player: Ashutosh Sharma