Delhi Capitals’ search for a reliable batting partner alongside KL Rahul has continued to produce problems in the Indian Premier League 2026. Rahul has been delivering consistently, but Pathum Nissanka has struggled to contribute meaningful runs so far. In his first seven appearances for the franchise, the Sri Lankan batter managed 147 runs, striking at an average of 21.
With the opening combination still not settling, DC made a switch by giving a debut to 18-year-old Sahil Parakh. However, the change did not immediately pay off, as Parakh registered a two-ball duck in his very first IPL game.
Calls for Prithvi Shaw selection
As DC continue to grapple with the same selection puzzle, former India spinner Murali Kartik voiced his surprise that the team has not explored the option of using Prithvi Shaw, who has been sitting on the bench. Kartik pointed out that Shaw, a right-handed top-order batter, had made his Delhi Capitals debut in 2018 and subsequently played seven straight seasons for the side.
He also highlighted Shaw’s recent journey: after being released by DC, Shaw received no bids at the IPL 2025 auction. Ahead of the 2026 season, though, DC brought him back at his base price of Rs 75 lakh.
“I am surprised because they haven’t even looked at Prithvi Shaw this season. Earlier also we were discussing whether he could play in place of Pathum Nissanka, because you get an aggressive opener. You have picked him for a reason. If you have picked him forgetting the past issues, it’s surprising you are not playing him,” Kartik said.
Impact of back-to-back setbacks
- Delhi Capitals suffered a defeat to Punjab Kings on Saturday after posting what was, at that stage, the highest team total in IPL 2026.
- The emotional hangover carried into their Monday night fixture, and the pressure clearly showed in their next performance.
- Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, DC were bowled out for 75 all out, confirming the psychological strain that followed the previous loss.
Axar Patel addressed the mindset shift directly, suggesting that even strong collective work did not translate into the kind of defending they needed after the earlier result. “I think because of what happened in the last game, I felt that even after doing so much as a team, you can win 9 out of 10 times, but after that, it felt like we could not defend back-to-back. I feel there was some hesitation because of that,” he said.
Delhi Capitals will look to reset their campaign when they face Rajasthan Royals in their next match at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Friday.
