Will Mitchell Starc Play? DC Strongest XI vs PBKS, IPL 2026, Match 35

DC's strongest XI vs PBKS [Source: AP]

The Delhi Capitals face the unbeaten Punjab Kings in the first clash of the double-header on Saturday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, on April 25 at 3:30 PM (IST).

So far in IPL 2026, DC has shown flashes of brilliance but have been inconsistent in terms of results. Despite starting the season with successive wins, they sit 6th on the table with 3 wins and 3 losses in 6 matches played. With the bat, Sameer Rizvi is leading the charge with 209 runs for them, while Lungi Ngidi has been the star bowler with 7 wickets for DC in IPL 2026.

Notably, ahead of the PBKS game, they have received some positive news over Mitchell Starc's availability. The bowler is set to join the team soon; however, is likely to only be available from the first week of May, ruling him out of the PBKS clash.

The Punjab Kings are the only IPL 2026 team who are yet to lose any matches. After 6 matches, the Shreyas Iyer-led outfit is placed at the top with five wins and a washout, accumulating 11 points.

As the DC look to climb up the points table and potentially move up in the top-4, here's what their strongest lineup looks like against PBKS.

Delhi Capitals Playing XI vs Punjab Kings- IPL 2026, Match 35

Top Order- KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana

KL Rahul has been one of DC's best batters in IPL 2026, with 205 runs in 6 innings, striking at 166.66, including two fifties to his name. He remains at the top of the order alongside Pathum Nissanka, who has blown hot and cold for his 136 runs in 6 innings, striking at 149.45 so far in the season.

The Capitals had issues with the number 3 batters early in the season, experimenting with Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi and Karun Nair. However, after a crucial 57 (30) against SRH in the last match, Rana has momentarily solidified his spot in the team.

Also Read: Pakistan-Origin Player Joins IPL As Delhi Capitals Sign Ben Duckett Replacement

Middle Order and All Rounders- Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Miller

DC's star of the season, who briefly also held the orange cap, is Sameer Rizvi, who they have trusted in for a couple of seasons and are reaping rewards now. He started the season with back-to-back fifties in the two matches, but has fizzled out a bit in the recent matches. He has 209 runs at 150.35 this season.

Their floater will be Axar Patel, who is yet to leave his mark in the tournament but will be raring to go in both departments to get some winning momentum going. He has 6 wickets at 7.94 runs per over this season, but remains in search of some runs.

The Proteas pair of Tristan Stubbs and David Miller, who were instrumental in the away win against RCB, will be the designated finishers, likely to be complemented by Ashutosh Sharma as the impact player. Stubbs has 196 high-impact runs this season, including two fifties, while Miller has looked in his vintage touch for 101 runs in 5 innings at 160.31.

Bowlers- Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan

Their x-factor wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav is also in search of some rhythm, which he has been missing in IPL 2026. He has picked 5 wickets and conceded 10 runs per over in 6 matches, but will be backed to do well as the tournament approaches the mid-way stage.

The pace bowling trio, led by South Africa's Lungi Ngidi, will consist of Mukesh Kumar and T Natarajan. All three have been highly effective in the ongoing IPL season, with Ngidi being their leading wicket-taker at 7 scalps in 6 innings, conceding 8.70 runs per over.

Mukesh Kumar has bowled decently and picked 5 wickets this season, but has conceded 10 runs per over, while Natarajan, who is one of their main death bowlers, has looked in his old form. He has gotten 4 wickets at just over 9 runs per over and remains a central figure in the Delhi Capitals' bowling attack.

Although Mitchell Starc has been cleared to join the IPL, he won't be playing straightaway vs Punjab Kings. Starc is likely to join the Delhi Capitals Playing XI vs Rajasthan Royals.