India's spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in on Delhi Capitals' strategy for the IPL 2026 season with a bold prediction regarding KL Rahul. Ashwin believes that the franchise must move Rahul back to the top of the order to open the innings. He suggests that if given this opportunity to face the new ball, Rahul is a top contender to win the Orange Cap, reaffirming his status as one of the league's most prolific run-scorers.
KL Rahul will have the Orange Cap: R Ashwin
This endorsement follows Rahul's impressive individual performance in the 2025 season, where he amassed over 500 runs. Despite frequently batting in the middle order to accommodate team requirements, he maintained a high strike rate of nearly 150 and even notched a century.
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Drawing from their experience as former teammates, Ashwin emphasised that Rahul’s technical skill set is naturally suited for the Powerplay overs. He noted that the Delhi Capitals struggled to maximise their roster's potential last year due to inconsistent utilization of their players. By slotting Rahul back into his preferred opening role, Ashwin believes the Capitals can fix a major tactical error and unlock the full scoring potential of their star batter.
"There was a match against CSK where KL Rahul played an exceptional knock on a two-paced pitch. Yet, they never opened with him again for a while after that. Make sure he opens this season. He will have the Orange Cap if he does. Have Pathum Nissanka open with him at the top. Just do these basic things and leave it to the players," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
DC look to avoid past mistakes in IPL 2026
To achieve a more balanced and successful campaign in 2026, DC must prioritise correcting their previous tactical errors, specifically regarding their batting order. A vital step in this process is re-establishing KL Rahul as the team's primary opening batsman. After a 2025 season where he was often utilised in the middle order, returning him to the top allows the franchise to capitalize on his natural ability to face the new ball and set a strong foundation during the Powerplay.
The Capitals have a unique opportunity to pair Rahul with the newly acquired Pathum Nissanka, creating a formidable and technically sound opening duo. Nissanka enters the squad in sensational form following his historic T20 World Cup performances, and his ability to anchor an innings while maintaining a high strike rate complements Rahul’s style perfectly. This combination could provide the consistent starts that Delhi lacked in their previous campaign, where inconsistent player utilization often hindered their momentum.
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Furthermore, the franchise must address the broader negative impacts of losing high-profile players and the resulting instability within the squad. When a team undergoes frequent personnel changes, it often creates a bottleneck where even in-form players struggle to receive enough opportunities to prove their value. By committing to a stable core, including the Rahul-Nissanka partnership, Delhi can avoid the pitfalls of "past mistakes" and ensure their talented roster has the clarity and consistency needed to compete for their maiden title.
"By trying to do too much as a support staff, you can impact the team in unimaginable ways. Ashutosh Sharma produced one amazing knock, but it felt like he never played after that. Suddenly, Sameer Rizvi played a game. Natarajan had dropped drastically in speed when I last saw him. Hopefully, he comes and delivers for them because he is a high-value pick. But even otherwise, they have a great bowling lineup. If Starc doesn't play, they have Lungi Ngidi. Mukesh Kumar has been bowling the yorkers brilliantly. Kuldeep Yadav had the ball on a string last season. He and Axar Patel are banks as solid Indian spinners. Auqib Nabi should play and open the bowling with the new ball," Ashwin added.