DC pin hopes on fit Ngidi and Starc as playoffs push begins in 2026

Delhi Capitals rely on fully recovered Lungi Ngidi and impactful Mitchell Starc to boost their playoff hopes in IPL 2026.

DC's high player turnover Delhi Capitals have fielded 20 players in the 2026 IPL season, marking one of the highest usage rates in the tournament. While Mumbai Indians lead with 24 players used, DC's tally stands just behind them. Among the eight overseas players, seven have already seen action, with only one remaining unused so far. The team now faces a critical phase where victory is the only acceptable outcome. ## Starc and Ngidi lead bowling charge Mitchell Starc joined Delhi Capitals late in April, making his debut on May 1 against Rajasthan Royals and immediately taking three wickets. Lungi Ngidi, who had been in strong form with seven wickets in seven games at an economy rate of 8.70, missed the last two matches after sustaining a head injury while fielding against Punjab Kings on April 25. However, Ngidi has now been cleared as fully fit after completing a six-day protocol for head injuries. ## Coach praises fast-bowling return Bowling coach Munaf Patel confirmed that Ngidi and all other bowlers are now 100% fit and ready to play. He emphasized the importance of early wickets, stating, "A wicket in the first six overs makes a big difference. That is why bowling in partnerships becomes very important." Patel also highlighted Starc's immediate impact, calling him "like the captain of the fast bowlers." ## Strategic bowling adjustments Initially, Delhi Capitals planned to rely heavily on Indian bowlers like Auqib Nabi and Mukesh Kumar to free up overseas slots for batting. However, after that approach failed, the team shifted to a backup plan. With Starc's arrival and Ngidi's return, the bowling unit aims to find the right combination. Only Sahil Parakh remains sidelined due to injury. ## Points race urgency Currently sitting seventh in the points table with four wins from nine matches, Delhi Capitals must win all remaining games to secure a playoff spot. Munaf Patel stressed the need for consistent victories, stating, "Obviously, we play every match to win, but now the relaxed mode is over. If you want to qualify, you have to win all the matches." The team has managed only two consecutive wins at any stage so far. ## Spin twins key to home advantage Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel remain Delhi Capitals' primary spin options, with Patel insisting there's no question of them not playing. He noted that even if pitches slow down slightly, the spinners' quality would remain a strength. However, he added that the tracks in Delhi might not slow down as much as expected, especially with limited time between matches. ## Learning from past mistakes Delhi Capitals suffered a 23-run loss to Chennai Super Kings in their last encounter, and Patel made it clear the team has moved on from that setback. He stated, "We have already moved on from the previous result. If we keep thinking about it, it will affect us again. It is better to forget it and move forward with the right mindset." Patel emphasized that confidence comes from winning, not from dwelling on losses.