With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 set to kick off on March 28, anticipation among fans is reaching fever pitch. After months of auctions, trades, and strategic reshuffles, franchises are gearing up for another high-octane season. Among the teams drawing significant attention are the Delhi Capitals (DC), who appear to have assembled a well-rounded and formidable squad. With a blend of experienced internationals and exciting young Indian talent, DC head into the new season with renewed hope and ambition. Fans will be eager to see whether this revamped unit can finally deliver consistency and mount a serious title challenge.

Kris Srikkanth names his preferred Delhi Capitals XI for IPL 2026

Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth has shared his thoughts on what he believes should be Delhi Capitals’ strongest playing XI for IPL 2026. His selection reflects a mix of stability at the top, firepower in the middle, and variety in the bowling attack.

Srikkanth has backed KL Rahul and Abishek Porel to open the innings, a combination that offers both composure and attacking flair. At number three, he has slotted in Nitish Rana, whose experience in the IPL could prove vital in anchoring the innings when needed.

The middle order, according to Srikkanth, is where DC can truly dominate. He has picked David Miller and captain Axar Patel to provide solidity and finishing ability, followed by the explosive Tristan Stubbs and rising star Ashutosh Sharma. This lineup ensures depth and flexibility, allowing DC to adapt to different match situations.

In the bowling department, Srikkanth has gone with a strong and diverse attack. Vipraj Nigam finds a place as a promising option, while Kuldeep Yadav leads the spin charge. The pace attack is spearheaded by Mitchell Starc and Lungi Ngidi, both capable of making an impact with the new ball and at the death. Srikkanth also named Jammu and Kashmir star pacer Auqib Nabi as impact sub player.

Kris Srikkanth’s DC XI for IPL 2026: KL Rahul, Abishek Porel, Nitish Rana, David Miller, Axar Patel (c), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi.

Impact Sub: Auqib Nabi.

Also READ: IPL 2026: KL Rahul set for clear role as Delhi Capitals look for stability

Star-studded Delhi Capitals aim to deliver big

The Capitals enter IPL 2026 as a balanced and star-studded unit, built around a strong core featuring Axar, Rahul, Kuldeep, and Starc. The franchise has clearly focused on addressing the weaknesses that hurt them in the previous season, particularly their middle-order inconsistency and struggles in the death overs.

The inclusion of experienced campaigners like Miller and Nitish adds much-needed stability, while players like Stubbs and Ashutosh bring explosive finishing ability. This combination makes DC’s lower middle order one of the most dangerous on paper. Their bowling unit also looks formidable, with a mix of pace and spin options capable of adapting to different conditions. While the likes of Starc and Ngidi provide raw pace and wicket-taking ability, Kuldeep’s spin remains a key weapon in the middle overs.

However, much of DC’s success could depend on how well their top order performs. Finding consistency at the top has been a challenge in previous seasons, and the team will hope that their chosen combinations click early in the tournament.

Also READ: Mohammad Kaif, Cheteshwar Pujara select strongest Delhi Capitals’ playing XI for IPL 2026

Former South Africa superstar AB de Villiers has delivered a brutally honest take on IPL batting comparisons, openly expressing his frustration with how stats are used, especially when comparing middle-order players to openers.

“It Irritates the Living Daylights Out of Me”

Speaking on Mbangwa Media Youtube channel De Villiers didn’t hold back while addressing comparisons with top IPL run-scorers:“So I hate it when they compare my runs to other players in the IPL, because then I go like, but I haven’t faced as many balls as the openers. It irritates the living daylights out of me.”“This guy scored 8,000 runs, he’s the best ever. I’m like, no, I’m better than him he’s faced more balls. Don’t do it.” he added.

“It’s the Easiest Thing in the World”

The former RCB legend took aim at the advantage openers enjoy in T20 cricket: “And then on top of that, they’re all openers and they bat with these restrictions only two guys out, and it’s like, it’s the easiest thing in the world, especially in India. It’s ridiculous, man. You can’t play cricket like that.”

“Don’t Compare My Stats With Openers”

De Villiers questioned the fairness of comparing players across batting positions: “But then don’t compare my stats now that I know that, with everybody. They’re all openers, all the main top run-scorers, the Orange Caps they have. Do you know why it irritates me?” de Villiers saidHe even suggested tweaking the fielding restrictions in the powerplay:“At the very least, okay, with a new ball, when the ball’s pinging and flying, at the very least just have your fielding restrictions taken away in the first six overs, T20s in India short boundaries, great wickets. The advantage is the new ball already. It’s flying. It’s already too easy. Don’t just have two fielders out of the ring.”

“Unfair to Bowlers”

The Proteas legend highlighted how bowlers are often at a disadvantage: “But I do feel it’s a bit unfair to the bowlers in the IPL, the first six overs. Forget about the stats and me being me. It’s just a tough watch.”De Villiers pointed out how even mistimed shots can bring boundaries: “Very often, they play bad strokes and get rewarded for it, your sliced ball that you didn’t hit in the area you wanted to… and you still get four.”Using Travis Head as an example, he said: “Now it’s like Travis Head, it’s just flying everywhere. Inside edge four, outside edge four. Good shot, six, great, but it’s one out of three.”“What is that? 33% strike and you’re on 15 off four balls.” he added.

“I Feel Embarrassed”

De Villiers revealed his own mindset when scoring lucky boundaries: “Honestly, when I hit an inside edge for four, I feel embarrassed, I even sometimes apologise to bowlers, I swear because I feel like that’s not right, now these openers, just runs everywhere. New ball flying. It bothers me.”“Why do you think some captains, at the back end of their careers, promote themselves to open the batting in T20 cricket?”

“Give Me a Chance Up Front”

De Villiers ended with a pointed remark about his own batting position: “I got demoted to five at the back end of my career. I’m like, what do you got? because I’m a good finisher? No, give me a chance as well with a new ball up front.”

AB de Villiers In IPL

AB de Villiers enjoyed a remarkable IPL career, scoring 5162 runs in 184 matches at an impressive average of 39.70 and a blistering strike rate of 151.68, including 3 centuries and 40 half-centuries, with a highest score of 133*. What makes his numbers even more special is the context unlike most top run-scorers, de Villiers primarily batted in the middle order, often at No. 3 to 5, and still managed to dominate attacks with 251 sixes and over 400 fours.

The price of bulk diesel sold to industrial users was hiked by about Rs 22 a litre on Friday, reflecting the spike in global oil prices amid conflict in the Middle-East, even as the rates of normal petrol and diesel remained unchanged.In Delhi, bulk or industrial diesel prices were raised from Rs 87.67 per litre to Rs 109.59. By contrast, a litre of normal diesel in the national capital continues to cost Rs 87.67, while normal petrol remains priced at Rs 94.77 per litre.

Ravindra Jadeja mocks Yashasvi Jaiswal in RR nets (Screengrabs)

NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals have begun preparations for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on a lively note, with a light-hearted yet impressive moment from training going viral. 24-year-old opener Yashasvi Jaiswal grabbed the spotlight by smashing a huge six off Ravindra Jadeja on the very first ball he faced in practice. What made it even more surprising was that Jaiswal had earlier told the veteran spinner that he hadn’t slept well, making his powerful shot even more unexpected.

During the session, Jaiswal looked completely at ease despite his lack of rest, confidently taking on Jadeja and sending the ball into the stands. The reaction from Jadeja added to the moment, as he couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed.“Abhi keh raha tha neend nahi hui raatko. Room mei practice karke aaya hai yeh (He was just saying he hadn’t slept well at night. But he’s come after practicing in the room),” said Jadeja.Watch:The clip quickly spread across social media, with fans praising Jaiswal’s fearless approach and natural attacking ability, which has already made him a key player for the franchise.

Royals eye strong comeback

Rajasthan Royals will be hoping such signs translate into performances on the field after a disappointing IPL 2025 season, where they finished near the bottom despite Jaiswal scoring 559 runs. The team has made several changes, including bringing in experienced all-rounder Jadeja, while also dealing with the absence of Sam Curran due to injury.There is also excitement around young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who impressed last season with his aggressive batting, including a record-breaking century. With a mix of youth and experience, Rajasthan Royals will be aiming to turn things around in IPL 2026, and moments like Jaiswal’s in practice offer early optimism for fans.

A French officer reportedly revealed the location of an aircraft carrier deployed towards the Middle East after publicly recording a run on the sports app Strava.The officer, referred to as Arthur by French news outlet Le Monde, logged a 35-minute run on March 13 while exercising on the deck of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. Using a smartwatch, he uploaded the activity to the app, creating a map that showed the vessel’s location.According to Le Monde, the carrier was northwest of Cyprus, around 100km (62 miles) from the Turkish coast, with satellite images capturing the vessel and its escort. BBC Verify said it was unable to find the route, though it was possible it had later been deleted or the user’s privacy settings had been changed.In a statement to AFP news agency, the French armed forces said the reported incident did “not comply with the current instructions” and that appropriate measures would be taken if the report was true.The Charles de Gaulle is the main part of a carrier strike group recently deployed to the eastern Mediterranean by France’s ministry of armed forces, as tensions in the region continue due to the Iran war. The ministry said the group was sent “to protect French nationals, defend France’s interests in the region, and support its partners and allies”.Aboard the vessel are 20 fighter jets, two surveillance aircraft and three helicopters. The deployment is part of France’s recent bolstering of its military presence in the Middle East, which French President Emmanuel Macron described as strictly “defensive.”The incident is the latest in a series of cases in which activity on Strava has exposed sensitive details. Le Monde previously reported that runs shared by Macron’s bodyguards jeopardised his location on several occasions, while Secret Service agents accompanying then-US President Joe Biden also shared their whereabouts on the app in 2024.A similar report that year said the app showed bodyguards for Russian President Vladimir Putin at luxurious properties the Kremlin denies owning. Another Strava feature, its ‘heatmap’, has also faced criticism for sharing exercise routes of military personnel at bases around the world.The heatmaps show all public activity recorded by users globally, allowing people to zoom in and explore different areas. In 2018, the US military said it was examining the map after security concerns were raised. A disinformation watchdog also said the app allowed suspicious figures to identify and track security personnel working at secretive bases in Israel.San Francisco-based Strava uses a mobile phone’s or fitness device’s GPS to track exercise activity. The company says it has more than 195 million users in more than 185 countries.