The Delhi Capitals (DC) face the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 43 of the 2026 Indian Premier League at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on May 01.
DC is coming off a nine-wicket defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at their home ground, the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. They struggled, getting out for just 75 runs against the defending champions. With three losses in a row, DC will aim to bounce back against RR.
Delhi Capitals’ predicted XI vs Rajasthan Royals:
Top order: Abishek Porel (WK), KL Rahul, Nitish Rana
KL Rahul has been DC’s standout opener in this IPL, scoring 358 runs in 8 innings, including a century against PBKS. He had a tough match against RCB, getting out cheaply. He needs to provide a solid start against a strong team.
Abhishek Porel could be included in the playing XI for this match. After a decent IPL 2025, he aims to make an impact alongside KL. Nitish Rana will bat at three and is expected to perform well against spinners during the middle overs.
Middle order: Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), David Miller
Sameer Rizvi has been a key batter in the middle overs for DC. However, he has struggled to maintain form after a strong start in the tournament. He will be under pressure to perform. Tristan Stubbs and David Miller bring significant batting strength, with Stubbs able to shift the game at any moment and Miller a reliable option for finishing. Captain Axar Patel adds all-round capability to the team.
Bowlers: Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar
Mitchell Starc is set to return to the IPL, according to Delhi Capitals’ skipper Axar Patel. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/MB Media/Getty Images)
A significant boost for DC comes with the return of Aussie star Mitchell Starc, who will lead the bowling attack against RR. He will be supported by Mukesh Kumar, while T Natarajan is likely to be an impact substitute.
In the spin department, Kuldeep Yadav will take charge, hoping to improve after a mixed season so far. Vipraj Nigam also provides a solid bowling option.
DC predicted XI against RR for Match 43
Abishek Porel (WK), KL Rahul, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), David Miller, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar
Impact player: T Natarajan