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Delhi Capitals approached the IPL 2026 mini auction with a clear plan and smart spending, building a refreshed squad that blends proven international stars, exciting domestic performers and renewed faith in familiar faces for the season ahead.
Axar Patel remains the captain of DC.
New Delhi: Delhi Capitals arrived at the IPL 2026 mini auction with a purse of Rs 21.8 crore and a strong sense of direction. Rather than engaging in reckless bidding, the franchise aimed to strengthen key areas with value driven picks. Being the first team to make a purchase on December 16 in Abu Dhabi highlighted their readiness and preparation. Each move reflected careful planning and long term vision.
The first signing of the day for Delhi Capitals was South African veteran David Miller. Acquired for Rs 2 crore without any competition, Miller adds valuable experience and stability to the middle order. Known for handling pressure situations with ease, his presence is expected to bring maturity and finishing power to the batting lineup.
England opener Ben Duckett was another calm and cost effective addition, joining the side for Rs 2 crore. Duckett offers flexibility across the batting order and is particularly effective against spin bowling. His aggressive approach provides Delhi Capitals with more options while setting up their batting combinations.
The biggest headline for Delhi Capitals at the auction was the signing of Auqib Nabi Dar for Rs 8.4 crore. Starting from a base price of Rs 30 lakh, the seam bowling all rounder from Jammu and Kashmir attracted heavy interest from multiple franchises. Delhi Capitals stayed in the race and secured him, signaling strong belief in his potential.
Auqib Nabi Dar has been one of the standout performers in domestic cricket. In the early part of the Ranji Trophy season, he picked up 29 wickets in five matches at an average of 13.27, including an outstanding spell of 7 for 24. His white ball performances are equally impressive, with 15 wickets in seven Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games at an economy of 7.41. These numbers justify Delhi Capitals confidence in him.
Prithvi Shaw’s return to Delhi Capitals was one of the emotional moments of the auction. After remaining unsold last season and being overlooked twice on the day, Shaw was finally picked up for his base price of Rs 75 lakh. The right handed batter now has a fresh opportunity to revive his career with a team that knows his strengths well.
Delhi Capitals continued to reinforce their overseas resources by signing Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka for Rs 4 crore and South Africa fast bowler Lungi Ngidi for Rs 2 crore. New Zealand all rounder Kyle Jamieson was also added for Rs 2 crore, providing height, bounce and versatility to the pace attack.
The retained list shows Delhi Capitals commitment to continuity. Axar Patel remains the captain, supported by experienced names such as KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Starc. Young talents like Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs and Sameer Rizvi continue as part of the long term project. Nitish Rana joins the side through a trade, adding further depth to the batting unit.
Several notable players were released to make room for the new signings. These include Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser McGurk, Mohit Sharma and others. The decision to move on from these names allowed Delhi Capitals to refresh the squad and focus on balance and performance.
