From KL Rahul To Axar Patel: Delhi Capitals Player Ratings For IPL 2026

Anatomy of Another Underwhelming Season

Another season has concluded, and for the Delhi Capitals, the wait for an elusive Indian Premier League title continues. Nineteen seasons into the history of the tournament, the franchise remains without the coveted trophy despite assembling a roster that looked exceptionally strong on paper heading into the 2026 campaign. The narrative of the season was one of high promise followed by profound inconsistency.

Delhi Capitals opened their IPL 2026 journey with a blistering start, securing victories in their first two matches and igniting hope among the fanbase for a deep playoff run. However, momentum is a fickle friend in the IPL. A disastrous mid-season stretch saw the team suffer five defeats in their next six encounters, effectively leaving them in a desperate catch-up mode for the remainder of the league stage.

While they managed a late resurgence by winning their final three league matches—finishing sixth with seven victories and 14 points—the damage had already been done. Even though they remained mathematically alive until the final day, captain Axar Patel admitted that the reality of their playoff elimination had set in much earlier. The combination of batting fragility and bowling inconsistency, punctuated by questionable management decisions, defined their failure.

Detailed Player Ratings for IPL 2026

To understand the root causes of this mid-table finish, we must look at individual contributions. Here are the grades for the Delhi Capitals squad for the 2026 season.

The Batting Core

• KL Rahul (9/10): The standout performer of the season. Rahul displayed immense class and consistency, carrying the batting lineup on his shoulders.
• Ashutosh Sharma (7/10): A revelation in the middle order, providing crucial impetus when the team needed it most.
• Sameer Rizvi (6/10): Showed glimpses of his potential but lacked the sustained output required for a higher rating.
• Pathum Nissanka (6/10): A decent contributor who often set the tone at the top, though he struggled to convert starts into big scores.
• David Miller (5/10): A disappointing return for such a seasoned campaigner; his experience was expected to yield more victories.
• Abishek Porel (5/10): Had moments of brilliance behind and in front of the stumps, but inconsistency hampered his impact.
• Tristan Stubbs (4/10): Failed to replicate his usual explosive form, struggling to find rhythm throughout the tournament.
• Nitish Rana (4/10): A forgettable season for a player who usually anchors the middle order with poise.

The Bowling Unit and All-Rounders

• Madhav Tiwari (8/10): Proved to be a bright spark for the future, bowling with pace and maturity beyond his years.
• Lungi Ngidi (8/10): A reliable presence with the new ball and at the death, consistently putting pressure on the opposition.
• Mitchell Starc (7/10): While the price tag was high, Starc provided valuable wickets and leadership in the bowling department.
• Axar Patel (4/10): A difficult season for the captain. Neither his batting nor his bowling had the expected impact on match results.
• Mukesh Kumar (4/10): Struggled to maintain control in the pressure overs, leading to his lower rating.
• T. Natarajan (4/10): His famous yorkers were missing, and he frequently leaked runs during the middle and death overs.
• Kuldeep Yadav (3/10): A surprisingly quiet season for the master spinner, who failed to weave his usual magic.
• Kyle Jamieson (2/10): Failed to provide the necessary support to the frontline pacers.
• Sahil Parakh (2/10): Limited opportunities that did not yield positive returns.
• Vipraj Nigam (1/10): A season to forget, struggling to find any consistency.
• Dushmantha Chameera (1/10): Unable to make a mark in the games he featured in.
• Tripurana Vijay (1/10): Failed to capitalize on the limited chances provided.
• Auqib Nabi (1/10): Remained on the periphery for most of the season.
• Karun Nair (1/10): Failed to establish himself in the playing XI despite the team’s batting woes.

Looking Ahead to 2027

The 2026 season serves as a stern reminder that talent alone does not win championships. As the management looks toward the 2027 auction and squad rebuilding, the focus must shift from assembling star-studded names to creating a balanced, cohesive unit. With several high-profile players underperforming, the Delhi Capitals front office has a massive task ahead to overhaul the roster and finally provide their loyal fans with a winning team.