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The stage is set for the 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and all ten franchises are intensifying their preparations in a bid to secure the coveted trophy. Among them, Delhi Capitals (DC) are under a big spotlight as despite their long history in the tournament, they are still hunting for their maiden title. Axar Patel-led team enters the new season with a renewed focus on tactical improvements and a deep desire to finally break their title drought.
He has done well as an opener: Axar Patel on KL Rahul's batting order
Leadership and strategy are already taking center stage as captain Axar Patel addresses the internal competition within the squad. Ahead of their opening clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), the primary talking point has been the batting order, specifically where star acquisition KL Rahul fits into the lineup. Axar has been vocal about the challenges of balancing a top order that is currently stacked with high-caliber talent.
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The captain's tactical headache stems from an abundance of opening options. With a roster featuring the likes of Ben Duckett, Abishek Porel, and Pathum Nissanka, the Capitals face a "problem of plenty." Axar has been tasked with determining whether Rahul will occupy his traditional slot at the top or if the team will shift his responsibilities to stabilize the middle order, a decision that could define DC's offensive strategy for the 2026 season.
"Last year, he was batting in the middle order because of the team combination. We had two foreign players last year, who could only bat at the top order. We couldn't try to play them in the middle order because they could have been vulnerable against the spinners. So, we used KL Rahul in the middle order last year," Axar Patel said in the press conference.
“However, due to injuries and combination, we promoted him. He was an experienced player, so we made that change. I'm not sure I'll play him in the same position again. But yes, he has done well as an opener, made so much of runs. In T20 cricket, it's necessary to have a good start, as it makes it easy for the lower-order batters,” DC skipper added.
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DC to take on LSG in season opener
Delhi Capitals are set to launch their IPL 2026 campaign with a challenging away fixture against the Lucknow Super Giants. The two teams will go head-to-head on April 1 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Following this season opener, DC will return to their home turf at the Arun Jaitley Stadium for consecutive matches against the Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans, before heading south to face the Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
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