Delhi Capitals’ Top 10 IPL 2026 Targets: Which Stars Are on the List?
From openers to fast bowlers, Delhi Capitals have major needs in IPL 2026. Here’s a full look at DC’s top targets and likely auction picks.
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Delhi Capitals, after parting ways with Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk, will enter the IPL 2026 mini-auction with an available budget of Rs 21.80 crore and eight empty spots on the roster to be filled. This franchise is in a tight spot having to rapidly fill the crucial gaps it has created, among them are the overseas all-rounders and explosive batting. Analysts and fans are watching eagerly which names DC will choose first.
Without a shadow of doubt, Finn Allen has become one of the best options to cover the top-order gap of DC. His aggressive nature of starting and high strike rate make Allen fit the role right in the powerplay which the franchise is looking for. He is the perfect fit not only in the role but also in the ground conditions of Arun Jaitley Stadium, which makes him most likely to be the early pick at the auction.
Delhi Capitals will benefit from two left-handed batsmen with solid T20 credentials, as CSK are letting go of both Conway and Ravindra. The duo adds a nice mixture of both the traits of stability and flexibility, thus they can easily be the best partners for Rahul in the opening slot. In fact, DC’s scouting suggests that both are very high on the shortlist.
Delhi Capitals are on the lookout for a middle-order all-rounder who can not only hit big but also provide some useful bowling. Among other things, the hard-hitting ability of Liam Livingstone in T20 cricket puts him in the category of a possible game-changing player. His experience and finisher's trait supply a major gap in DC's current overseas lineup.
The signing of Andre Russell (who was let go by KKR) and Cameron Green (who was let go by RCB) to whom the franchise is now led by, would provide DC with an opportunity to become more dominant with respect to their finishing power. Any one of these two can bring about a substantial increase in the squad's ability to finish off games during the death overs and the overall hitting capacity, which has been pointed out as a shortcoming in IPL 2025.
Jordan Cox has kept up his T20 form consistently and thus could be a backup for DC’s top order. His talent to build innings and quicken score makes him a good nominee in case DC chooses Indian openers over outsiders.
The outstanding performance of Prithvi Shaw in domestic cricket and his earlier engagement with Delhi Capitals give him good chances for a place in the top order. His aggressive play during powerplays could be a plus to DC's auction strategy, thus providing an Indian option along with the overseas recruits.
PBKS released Kuldeep Sen who serves as a backup for the rights-left Delhi pace combination. With T. Natarajan being injury-prone, Sen's skill to bowl fast, accurate yorkers, and cause bounce in death overs could be significant for the squad.
Delhi Capitals can go for a strong range of overseas pace players which include Gerald Coetzee, Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson, and William O’Rourke. It will be important for IPL 2026, to strengthen celebrations of Mitchell Starc or perhaps to add to the pace attack.
The signing of Nitish Rana gives strength to the middle order and this opens the door for DC to get finishers with high impact. Fans should look forward to aggressive bids for players with proven power-hitting skills that can finish a game efficiently.
Delhi Capitals have a mix of risk and reward in the mini-auction with eight roster spots open—five for overseas players and three for Indians. IPL 2026 strategy will be defined by the balance between marquee signings and cost-effective picks. The final squad is likely to be shaped by bold moves, calculated targeting and surprise picks.
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