IPL 2026: Top 3 Delhi Capitals batters to watch out for

The Delhi Capitals (DC) have not made a host of changes to their batting lineup ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. They have retained a core of their middle order which helped them finish fifth last season, just one point off the playoff spots. 

The team from the capital city, however, has made some shrewd signings in the mini auction, allowing them to strengthen their already strong batting unit. The Delhi-based team has one player at each stage of their batting order who can come in and change the game in their favour. 

Here are 3 Delhi Capitals batters to watch out for in IPL 2026:

3. Ashutosh Sharma (Lower-middle order batter)

Ashutosh Sharma has previously played the role of a designated finisher for DC and will be expected to do the same this time around. The 27-year-old scored at a strike rate of 160 during the 2025 IPL season on his way to a 204-run season. 

Coming in to bat lower down the order, Ashutosh’s hard-hitting ability, along with the presence of Sameer Rizvi, will allow the likes of KL Rahul and Axar Patel to go heavy earlier on in the innings. 

A beneficiary of the Impact Sub rule, Ashutosh can come into bat whenever his side requires a flourish at the death. The best example of DC using this rule to its best potential was during their opening game of the 2025 season against LSG, where Ashutosh came in to smash an unbeaten 66 off just 31 balls to help his side chase down 210 with three balls to spare in a thrilling run chase.

2. Tristan Stubbs (Middle-order batter)

Despite only starting his third season at DC, South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs has become one of his side’s most important batters in the middle-order. Signed in 2024 and then retained in 2025, Stubbs scored 300 runs at an average of 50 and strike-rate of 150.75 in the last season after scoring at upwards of 190 in 2024. 

Stubbs has the tendency to sometimes play himself in, particularly in recent times but is able to shift gears whenever required. The 25-year-old also showed during the recently-concluded T20 World Cup that he can stick around at the end and remain unbeaten to get the job done for his side. He scored an unbeaten 44 against India to help South Africa post a match-winning total in the first innings. 

Stubbs has, however, had an underwhelming SA20 recently. The right-hander comes alive in the IPL at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and DC fans would be hoping for some handy contributions in the middle order to take their side to the playoffs.

1. KL Rahul (Top-order batter)

KL Rahul is set to compete in only his second season for DC following an excellent debut campaign last time around. The India opener scored 539 at an average of just under 54 whilst striking at close to 150. He scored his first IPL century after seasons when he hit an unbeaten 112 against the Gujarat Titans, though in a losing cause. 

Rahul was able to express himself higher up the order at the Capitals, something he was not able to do whilst playing for the Lucknow Super Giants in the preceding two-to-three seasons. However, with no Faf du Plessis this time around, Rahul will have a new opening partner to gel with in 2026. DC have signed both Pathum Nissanka and Ben Duckett in the most recent mini-auction as potential openers alongside their talisman.