Indian all-rounder Axar Patel will captain the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the upcoming IPL 2026, but their main strength will not be their leader. Last year, everything went wrong for the Capitals.

They had a great start, but the constant chopping and changing didn’t help them, as the Delhi Capitals failed to make it to the playoffs. Delhi’s big players failed to deliver consistently, and the team kept losing momentum. Yet, DC didn’t make too many changes at the mini auction.

3 players could power DC to IPL 2026 glory

They released players like Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk and signed experienced, impactful, and proven star players like David Miller, Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, and Lungi Ngidi. Well, KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, and David Miller give strength to the batting, while Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav will take care of the spin department.

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However, they might miss the presence of Mitchell Starc in the early matches, but they look strong to make a strong impact. We predict that KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, and Tristan Stubbs will play key roles in the team’s success in the upcoming IPL 2026.

KL Rahul

Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul could be the most important player for the Delhi Capitals in the upcoming IPL 2026 after his strike rate improved. The right-handed batter made his DC debut last year, and he made a stunning impact with the bat by scoring 539 runs at a strike rate of around 150.

Delhi had a big problem with its opening, and Rahul can solve that with his ability to handle one end and then increase the speed when needed. The Karnataka star is expected to open the innings and give DC strong and stable starts in the upcoming season.

He is one of the most consistent top-order batters in the IPL, with over 4,400 runs at an average near 50. Overall, the former PBKS and LSG captain has 5,222 runs in 145 matches to his name in the IPL.

Tristan Stubbs

Tristan Stubbs remains the big X-factor for the Capitals. He is an ultra-aggressive anchor-finisher in the middle order against both spin and fast bowling. In death overs, he can be a very dangerous batter, and DC must feel blessed to have such a talented star, who is also a useful wicketkeeper and off-spinner.

Stubbs, who was retained by the franchise for a whopping INR 10 crore, has so far amassed 705 runs at a high strike rate of 163.19 and picked up 4 wickets at an average of 17.25 in 32 IPL matches. Additionally, the South African star has also taken 17 catches to prove his multi-dimensional skill.

Kuldeep Yadav

India’s wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav remains the main wicket-taking bowler for DC alongside the skipper Axar Patel after being retained for ₹13.25 crore by the franchise. The Chinaman bowler’s job is to break partnerships while attacking the batters.

His left-arm wrist spin, googly, and flight confuse batters, giving DC an advantage. He is the team’s trump card in tough moments, as he keeps running low and takes key wickets. Kuldeep has so far played 98 matches and scalped 102 wickets at an economy rate of 8 and an average of over 26 so far in the IPL.

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Kuldeep Yadav and his wife Vanshika (File Photo)

LUCKNOW: Team India spinner Kuldeep Yadav added a touch of humour to a celebratory evening at the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2025, offering a candid glimpse into his newly married life while being honoured for his performances.The Uttar Pradesh spinner, who was among several athletes felicitated with a Special Honour, drew laughter with his honest admission about his recent marriage with Vanshika Chadha. “I was a little nervous at the beginning, before the marriage. After that, it was unbelievable. It feels really good, it’s the start of a new life,” Kuldeep said, reflecting on the early days after recently tying the knot.He followed it up with a light-hearted line that quickly became a highlight of the evening: “Nayi shaadhi sabko acchi lagti hai, maine ek cheez sikhi hai 4-5 dino mein ki biwi ki suno sirf toh acchi chalegi life. (Everyone enjoys the early days of marriage. I’ve learned one thing in the last 4–5 days, if you just listen to your wife, life will go smoothly)”Kuldeep, along with Deepti Sharma, was recognised for his contribution to Indian cricket during the year, as part of a broader segment honouring athletes from Uttar Pradesh across disciplines. The ceremony celebrated sporting excellence across more than 45 categories, covering performances from January to December 2025.The awards, judged by an eminent panel featuring Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Achanta Sharath Kamal, Leander Paes and Devendra Jhajharia, recognised achievements across levels.Kuldeep’s remarks, however, ensured that beyond the honours, it was a moment of relatability and laughter that stayed with the audience.

NEW DELHI: Till Feb 27, it seemed like a usual trip back home through familiar waters for the crew of the Indian-flagged ship. But everything changed dramatically, recalled a senior officer of the vessel — that returned to India early this week after crossing the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz — as the US and Israel launched coordinated, surprise airstrikes against multiple sites across Iran the next day.After loading the ship at Ras Laffan in Qatar on Feb 27, which is around 300–350 km (about 160–190 nautical miles) by sea, the captain and crew were all set to embark on their voyage to India. “But things came to a halt with reports and instances of major airstrikes. We took refuge at a safe anchorage at a port in the UAE. We faced a lot of problems as GPS started giving trouble and instruments on the ship were not working properly. This added to our anxiety levels. We were watching news and getting updates of the war and attacks which were happening in the region. We just followed the advisories and instructions of DG Shipping, Shipping Corporation of India and Indian Navy,” the officer told TOI on condition of anonymity.For the crew, apart from the risk they faced in the war zone, what added to their anxieties was the depleting stock of drinking water. “We had enough food to manage for more than a month. But potable water was becoming an issue. Cargo ships can generate very little drinking water when stopped, and that’s not enough to sustain crew members; in the case of older ships, this is reduced further. We could have managed for another 7-10 days with the water we had,” the officer said.This is because the onboard water production system or freshwater generators on such a vessel are linked to the heat and power generated by the main engine while it is running.Another big challenge was to keep the crew members motivated and instill confidence in them that the ship would be able to sail back to India safely given the govt’s focus on rescuing Indian-flagged vessels, which are crucial to its energy security. The cricket World Cup matches helped too to reduce the stress in the air on the ship.After an almost 10-day wait at the port, the crew got the good news on March 13 (Friday) that they could start their journey that night. “We had no prior information, though we were aware that the Indian govt was working hard for safe passage of Indian-flagged vessels. We were in touch with Indian Navy, which escorted us after we crossed the Strait of Hormuz. We were not in contact with the Iranian Navy,” the officer said in response to a question.News agency Bloomberg reported that the Iranian Navy had guided an Indian LPG vessel through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing the ship to pass on a pre-approved route following diplomatic engagement by New Delhi. It said that during the crossing, the ship was in contact with the Iranian navy by radio and the Iranians took details of the ship’s flag, name, origin and destination ports, and the nationality of the crew members.There have been reports of at least eight vessels transiting Hormuz this week.

Ambekar framed the RSS’s approach to caste through social harmony rather than structural confrontation (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Drawing a line between welfare and politics on caste data, RSS national publicity head Sunil Ambekar said the Sangh backs caste census but opposes its use for “dividing society”, even as he outlined the organisation’s position on key debates from caste reform and women’s participation to its equation with BJP.In an interaction with TOI, Ambekar framed the RSS’s approach to caste through social harmony rather than structural confrontation. “If mutual affection grows and discrimination disappears, even large issues can be resolved. Without harmony, even small issues become major conflicts,” he said.He said access to temples, cremation grounds, water sources and public spaces should be open to all, with RSS volunteers engaging at the local level to address such concerns. He pointed to institutions such as Vidya Bharati, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Ekal Vidyalaya and Seva Bharati as part of a wider outreach network, adding that leadership is increasingly emerging from marginalised communities, including women.On women’s participation, Ambekar defended the parallel structure ofRashtriya Sevika Samiti, saying it mirrors the RSS shakha model. At the same time, he acknowledged the need to expand women’s role, noting that participation in decision-making and outreach is rising through a coordination mechanism called “Mahila Sambandh”. He also flagged the centenary theme of “Kutumb Prabodhan”, which seeks to encourage families to support women’s participation in public life.On the caste census, he reiterated that while RSS supports it for welfare, it opposes political misuse. “Democracy requires representation, but politics should not pit one community against another,” he said, arguing that societal unity can counter divisive mobilisation. Despite perceptions of polarisation, he said “on the ground we see unity”, citing gatherings such as the Kumbh and the Ram Mandir consecration.Addressing the RSS-BJP equation, Ambekar said the Sangh remains a social organisation focused on “building individuals”, with swayamsevaks working across sectors, including politics. He stressed that organisations operate independently, while describing India’s framework as “society-centric” in contrast to Western state-centric models. While political parties function within electoral cycles, he said RSS works on a longer civilisational horizon through “Lokmat Jagran”.On criticism linking Hindu nationalism to democratic backsliding, Ambekar rejected the premise, describing Hindu culture as “unifying” and rooted in ideas such as “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”. He argued that India’s civilisational ethos enables coexistence and strengthens democracy in a diverse society.On concerns over discrimination against people from the north-east, he said the term “racial discrimination” is misplaced, attributing past tensions to historical distortions and limited interaction. He said exchange programmes have reduced misunderstandings and called for sensitive handling of such issues.On global conflicts, Ambekar said India should be guided by peace and principles, with the govt taking decisions based on strategic assessment.