Two games into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Delhi Capitals (DC) and Gujarat Titans (GT) find themselves at contrasting ends—not just on the points table, but in how their batting units are functioning. Delhi have secured two wins despite recurring collapses, while Gujarat have suffered defeats even after building strong foundations. As they prepare to face off at the batting-friendly Arun Jaitley Stadium, this clash promises to test two sides still searching for balance.
Delhi Capitals may look comfortable with four points, but their top-order fragility remains a major concern. In their season opener against Lucknow Super Giants, they slumped to 26/4 despite dominating earlier phases. A similar pattern followed at home, where they were reduced to 7/2 during a modest chase. On both occasions, Sameer Rizvi emerged as the saviour, delivering a match-winning 70* and a career-best 90, showcasing maturity beyond his years.
However, Rizvi’s heroics have highlighted deeper issues. KL Rahul has faced just five deliveries across two matches, managing only a single run. Nitish Rana, batting at No. 3, is yet to make a meaningful impact, increasing pressure on the top order. For now, Delhi have resisted making changes, largely because of their winning start.
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Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, are grappling with a misfiring middle order. Their top three have consistently provided solid starts, but the inability of the middle order to capitalise has cost them dearly. Against Punjab Kings, they slipped from 119/2 to 162, and against Rajasthan Royals, they failed to chase down 211 despite being 127/2 at one stage. The combined returns from their Nos. 4–7 have been underwhelming, exposing a lack of depth.
Adding to their concerns is the dip in form of Jos Buttler, who hasn’t crossed 40 in his last 10 T20 innings. This has further increased reliance on early momentum. With conditions expected to favour batting and only minor weather interruptions predicted, both teams have an opportunity to address their flaws. Historically, Gujarat hold a slight 4-3 edge in this rivalry, including a positive record in Delhi.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Delhi Capitals received a minor scare during training after David Miller was struck on the face, but the South African is reportedly fine and expected to be available. Bowling coach Munaf Patel has also hinted at an unchanged playing XI for their second home game, barring any last-minute fitness concerns.
All eyes will be on KL Rahul, who has endured a poor start to IPL 2026 with just one run in two matches. However, the upcoming clash against Gujarat Titans could offer the perfect opportunity for a turnaround. Rahul boasts an excellent record against Mohammed Siraj, scoring 135 runs off 79 balls at a strike rate of 170.88 while being dismissed only once.
Probable XII: KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), Vipraj Nigam, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar
Gujarat Titans (GT)
Gujarat, meanwhile, are set to welcome back captain Shubman Gill after he missed the previous game due to a muscle spasm. His return is likely to push Kumar Kushagra out of the XI. Kuldeep Yadav’s record in Delhi has been underwhelming, something GT’s middle order will look to exploit.
Probable XII: Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada/Jason Holder, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
