The Delhi Capitals enter IPL 2026 with a pace attack that is a mix of international experience and Indian consistency, but also raises questions around availability and balance.
The biggest talking point is the presence of Mitchell Starc and Kyle Jamieson—both marked unavailable in the squad. Their absence significantly impacts Delhi’s ability to dominate with express pace and bounce.
This shifts the responsibility to T Natarajan, who becomes the leader of the pace unit. Known for his deadly yorkers and death-over execution, Natarajan is crucial in closing out innings.
Alongside him, Mukesh Kumar offers reliability. While not the quickest, Mukesh thrives on accuracy and variations, making him a dependable option across phases.
The squad also includes Dushmantha Chameera and Lungi Ngidi, though both are marked unavailable. This further weakens Delhi’s overseas pace depth.
Interestingly, the presence of Kuldeep Yadav adds a different dimension, even though he is a spinner. His wicket-taking ability in the middle overs reduces pressure on the pacers.
Overall, Delhi Capitals’ pace attack in IPL 2026 is heavily dependent on Indian bowlers. While they have skill and discipline, the lack of available overseas quicks could hurt them against power-packed batting lineups.
If Natarajan and Mukesh deliver consistently, Delhi can still remain competitive—but their margin for error is minimal.
